Chiang Mai third most polluted city

[Sydebolle]

See CP's involvement in the rail link system connecting DMK, BKK and UTP - explains why they cannot stop these farmers slash-burning their fields for faster growth of corn for ...... CP's chicken industry? 

[Kwasaki]

Going there soon for 1 night I'm all set.

 

[robodelfy]

I'm a bit confused, is it only considered one of the most 'polluted' cities during burning season? Because I thought outside of those few months the air quality was ok? Can someone explain

 

As opposed to many Indian cities which are constantly polluted 

[spidermike007]

Outdoor fires, cane burning, diesel exhaust, buses and taxis running on regular gas and diesel, rather than CNG, coal and diesel firing electrical generating plants, etc, etc. There are countless things this government could be doing, if only they cared. People are dying. People are being hospitalized with lung and respiratory ailments. This is nothing short of an emergency situation. Get with it folks. Do something. The government needs to stop talking, and act. Are you there for the people, or not? 

[geriatrickid]

6 hours ago, AlexRich said:

As much as I love Chiang Mai this is the issue that would keep me away for half of the year ... and yet when this topic is mentioned on TV you get plenty resident ex pats on here suggesting that it’s not much of a problem. Sorry, but it is the major drawback for anyone considering settling there.

Smokers can't differentiate. As their lungs are already destroyed, they don't care anyway. In addition to the air pollution is the dengue and  now the malaria risk. The destruction of bird habitat has allowed the mosquito populations to exponentially grow. The heavy burning  forces the birds away too. No one really cares, so it's best to let them suffer the consequences.  perhaps, once they  suffer enough, they will finally put a stop to the   burning.

[LomSak27]

1 hour ago, toolpush said:

Agreed. I remember Bangkok in the late eighties/early nineties. Take a tuk tuk or motorcycle taxi any distance and your face would literally be black. Up until recently the Bangkok air quality has been pretty good.

 

It would have been early November 1985, just to be exact  . Spent a day going around Bangkok by bus, air and non-air. I was wearing those old John Fowler white cotton T shirts. Damp with sweat it was a magnet, and when I washed it in a sink, the water wasn’t brown or grey, it was black. Just a day spent hard core touristing in Bangkok

 

What you don’t see much now. Traveling by night bus in the dry season. You would look out at the lines of fire snaking up hillsides. They would burn at night. That was a signature image of the dry season in north and northeast Thailand.

    

[j8k]

It's all the Chinese tourists. They come here and smoke themselves and everyone else to death!

[Benmart]

7 hours ago, sfokevin said:

Yeah Dr Khuanchai your nudge should be sufficient to solve the problem... 

You are spot on. Affirmative action seems unknown in these parts.

[dassyurus]

Just google nullschool for a look at the world as a whole. Big eye opener

[masuk]

2 hours ago, chrisinth said:

I personally find it difficult to believe one word in articles like this when they are so wrong.

 

PM2.5 has nothing to do with weight as is being reported. It is to do with the particle size which is measured in microns, or micrometers depending on where you come from.

 

If they can't get that little fact right I wonder what else they are spouting off about.

Try S.I. which is micrometres.   

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

PM2.5 are particles of 2.5 micrograms or smaller in diameter. According to the Pollution Control Department (PCD), when the amount of PM2.5 exceeds 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air, it is not safe to breathe.

This what the World Health Oraganisation say's... 

THERE IS NO SAFE LIMIT OF PM2.5

Ohh and while were about it only Thailand says 50 micrograms per cubic metre or above is not safe

This again is what World Health Oraganisation says:

WHO Air Quality Guideline values

Particulate Matter (PM)

Guideline values

Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5)

10 μg/m³ annual mean
25 μg/m³ 24-hour mean

Coarse Particulate Matter (PM₁₀)

20 μg/m³ annual mean
50 μg/m³ 24-hour mean

[PumpkinEater]

I disagree, Third most polluted city in the world?! No Way! I've been many many places in the world.

I would say India/ Africa/ Places in Brazil...Many many cities polluted.

 

The problem is that THE FIELDS ARE ON FIRE!!!!!!!! THEY ARE BURNING THE SUGAR CANE FIELDS!

That time of year...

I flew to Udon Thani last night and counted a HUNDREDs of fires with thick smoke from each.

 

The EXTRA polluted air in bangkok this time of year is mostly the result of these fires.

 

Prohibit the burning and the air will "clean" itself to the lower levels again.

 

Natural gas/ Electric busses and vehicles...outdoor BBQs that are charcoal based should be banned, etc etc etc....

Look at Singapore as an example of model.

 

Stupid Humans! CLEAN AIR AND WATER ARE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS!!!!!!!!

 

Cheers!

[UPDEHSOI]

7 hours ago, AlexRich said:

As much as I love Chiang Mai this is the issue that would keep me away for half of the year ... and yet when this topic is mentioned on TV you get plenty resident ex pats on here suggesting that it’s not much of a problem. Sorry, but it is the major drawback for anyone considering settling there.

One of the THREE reasons why I moved from there. Broke my heart, but......

[cmsally]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Outdoor fires, cane burning, diesel exhaust, buses and taxis running on regular gas and diesel, rather than CNG, coal and diesel firing electrical generating plants, etc, etc. There are countless things this government could be doing, if only they cared. People are dying. People are being hospitalized with lung and respiratory ailments. This is nothing short of an emergency situation. Get with it folks. Do something. The government needs to stop talking, and act. Are you there for the people, or not? 

People tried to organise a "protest" last year in CM and were threatened with arrest.

[JimmyJ]

1 hour ago, UPDEHSOI said:

One of the THREE reasons why I moved from there. Broke my heart, but......

 

What were the other two?

[ThaiSauce]

Let's get the water cannons out and drain the moat, maybe get a few drones as well.

Sent from my BLA-L29 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Knocker33]

Gone on .Just a few more points and you will be number one in the world.You know how you like being number one.

[4MyEgo]

Didn't I see a documentary on Chang Mai's air pollution a whiles a go and the hospital doctor was giving out face masks, the standard type and when approached had no idea that the 2.5 particles could travel through such a standard mask.....der

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, dassyurus said:

Just google nullschool for a look at the world as a whole. Big eye opener

https://www.airvisual.com/earth

[Spidey]

18 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

https://www.airvisual.com/earth

 

Something just doesn't make sense about that map.

 

Sahara Desert, heavily polluted, Europe not? Air quality in Bangkok better than Sahara?

[jak2002003]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The government needs to stop talking, and act. Are you there for the people, or not? 

Do you not know the answer to that?

 

It's the smae in most countries, governments don't care about the general population.. they just care about their jobs, getting rich and enjoying their lives. The general population is basically treated like livestock to bring in the money.

 

Also, a big percentage of people don't even care about their neighbours or other humans so long as they themselves are OK, and over here there is a great amount of what appears to be apathy about life.  

[moutamine]

Great place to retire... forever... as in the ground before your time! 

Edited February 13, 2019 by moutamine

[dunroaming]

Seems nothing much has changed over the years.  It was flagged as the third worst in the world when I lived there over ten years ago.  Nothing get's done about it so you make your choice and hold your breath or head for the cleaner air elsewhere.  As grown-ups we can make those choices but if you have children then you should consider the consequences carefully.

[jaiyen]

Once again the PM is telling other authorities to sort out the problem. He will not accept any responsibility for the smog. He has his beloved S44 that he could use to stir things into action, but that is only if it benefits him.  Must be careful, there is an election coming up ! Spraying water into the air now seems to be the accepted answer. That does sweet FA !  The water evaporates and the dust is on the ground ready to go back into the air.  It never disappears, it will always be there and each year will get more and more. Too late Thailand. Wait till the hospitals are at bursting point, which won't take long.

[AlexRich]

5 hours ago, UPDEHSOI said:

One of the THREE reasons why I moved from there. Broke my heart, but......

I understand completely. If you want to relax and stay in an interesting location then places like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are definitely worth a visit ... from about June to November. I recall arriving in May thinking that the pollution would be gone, only to walk around for three weeks with a mask on. If you stay there long term you’ll reduce your life expectancy. Health comes first. Probably best stick to the islands or coastal places like Pattaya or Hua Hin. 

[ianf]

Huge numbers of fires every day: Yesterday as I cycled from Mae Win to Mae Wang there were 4 fires by the side of the road. Meanwhile the air was so thick that I was astounded that people didn't have the sense to see they were adding to the problem. What's more the local Tambons are themselves burning km after km of verges: and while so doing they are burning tonnes of plastic at low temperatures, releasing dangerous toxins into the air.  That only leaves one question: Are these people mad?

[Ajarnbrian]

What about those cities in China with terrible air pollution problems? Check out `Under the Dome`on Youtube, a doc (now banned in China) that examines the problem and how official pollutant particle figures there don`t tell the whole story. 

[Dumbastheycome]

13 hours ago, YetAnother said:

WHO standard is 25 micrograms per cubic metre; why is thailand double ? people breathe differently here ? or because thais realize they could never achieve the world standard ?

The  WHO standard is  set by the influence of smug countries that  insist on  dirty  manufacturing in someone elses country. 

[spidermike007]

16 hours ago, cmsally said:

People tried to organise a "protest" last year in CM and were threatened with arrest.

It does not matter. Civil disobedience can turn around a corrupt and hapless society. Something needs to be done. The constant threats of force cannot stop us! Tiny men behaving like tyrants will not work. 

[spidermike007]

11 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I understand completely. If you want to relax and stay in an interesting location then places like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are definitely worth a visit ... from about June to November. I recall arriving in May thinking that the pollution would be gone, only to walk around for three weeks with a mask on. If you stay there long term you’ll reduce your life expectancy. Health comes first. Probably best stick to the islands or coastal places like Pattaya or Hua Hin. 

Hua Hin has been plagued with really bad air this year. Seems that is about as far south as the gunk travels. And HH produces alot of its own with all the traffic. The country is in trouble. What we are seeing is an epidemic of foul air. The respiratory institutes like the one in Nonthaburi must be over flowing with the sick and dying. Does the hapless army care? Not one iota.