Health Advisory

[vultureintree]

Played golf at Mae Jo today and my eyes were burning and I could taste the air. Will be packing with my family and leave the pollution and Thai immigration forever!

[grrr]

I recently moved from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and could breath MUCH easier, until 2 days ago. Very smoky and hazy here as well....

[cdnvic]

I just wrote a web page about this, and took some pictures from the same spot as I did during the rainy season, knowing that this issue would come up around about now.

Have a look at the pics.... I can't wait for the rain!!

http://www.nachang.com/dryseason/

That shot of the tower speaks volumes. Reminds me of when Mount St. Helens erupted many years ago.

[stranger_in_the_alps]

Well, I was planning 2 weeks up in CM and the triangle starting on the 18th, but not now. I knew it might be a bit hazy this time of year, but nothing like this. Looks like I'll be going to Borneo from BKK instead. Thanks for the heads-up and try to stay healthy. ######!

[ThaiGoon]

The gov't needs to make people stop burning their garbage/fields. They have to sort this out.

[LaoPo]

I just wrote a web page about this, and took some pictures from the same spot as I did during the rainy season, knowing that this issue would come up around about now.

Have a look at the pics.... I can't wait for the rain!!

http://www.nachang.com/dryseason/

That shot of the tower speaks volumes. Reminds me of when Mount St. Helens erupted many years ago.

I second that; I've read the topic from the beginning and have to say it's frightening and extremely unhealthy for the people living in the area.

Thanks 'Chanchao' for these photos......1 picture is worth more than a thousands words.

The question remains: what can be done?

LaoPo

[mongoose]

The gov't needs to make people stop burning their garbage/fields. They have to sort this out.

Almost all the fields north of CM were burned several months ago and are now green with new crops so the current problem is most likely not from field burning. Trash continues to be a problem and there are a lot of fires in the forests in the region.

[sutnyod]

Another idea how to set an example as farang: design houses that don't need aircon. That will be easy to follow by the Thai.

Don't use aircon, except when it's necessary (i.e. for sleeping). This is more tricky

Point out buildings that are totally incompatible with warm climates (office buildings that have glass facades, and then need a huge amount of airconditioning). Write letters to department stores - it's WAY to cold in there all over Thailand.

Edited March 7, 2007 by sutnyod

[KhunDennis]

It is good to see people talking about this air problem. Maybe it will bring it out into the open more.

I just wish the Thai government would talk to the people and make a plan. I ask my wife if it is on the local news , and it is not.

I still see huge fires all the time here, the people really need to get the message.

[naammanow]

Did drive from hang Dong to Chiang Mai around the back way yesterday morning, via the little road back of B. Tawai and going around the 3rd ring road and counted 8 fires of rubbish smoking and burning away, mostly leaves and trash, rubbish. And my eyes were burning and the sun was hardly visible through the smog screen. Pretty horrific as I see many of my friends, especially children having a hard time.

This from the Bangkok Post yesterday:

''The increasing dust level is a result of widespread forest fires in the northern provinces and in neighbouring countries including Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia,'' said Duangchai Duangthip, a specialist at the Chiang Mai-based northern environmental office.

Ms Duangchai said Thailand is currently in the peak period for forest fires, resulting in rising levels of small dust particles across the country, but Chiang Mai is worst hit because it is surrounded by mountain ranges.

If Chiang Mai, Lampang are in a valley, how come the smoke of the burning from neighbouring countries, several 100 Km’s away, gets somehow “sucked into” our valley? Isn’t smoke supposed to rise up? Or is it blaming those foreigners again for our own shortcomings?

Anyway, whatever, stay cool, stay healthy and last night I had a dream that it was raining, maybe a wishful premonition coming true soon . . .

[Rasseru]

Another idea how to set an example as farang: design houses that don't need aircon. That will be easy to follow by the Thai.

Don't use aircon, except when it's necessary (i.e. for sleeping). . . . .

I think these are good ideas, but what is the connection between them and the dirty air problem?

[Ricardo]

Another idea how to set an example as farang: design houses that don't need aircon. That will be easy to follow by the Thai.

Don't use aircon, except when it's necessary (i.e. for sleeping). . . . .

I think these are good ideas, but what is the connection between them and the dirty air problem?

Presumably by reducing demand for electricity, and hence pollution, from power-generation.

Does any of our local power come from clean sources, such as hydro-electric, or is it all from brown-coal-powered and deisel-generators ? Anyone know ??

[mongoose]

If Chiang Mai, Lampang are in a valley, how come the smoke of the burning from neighbouring countries, several 100 Km’s away, gets somehow “sucked into” our valley? Isn’t smoke supposed to rise up? Or is it blaming those foreigners again for our own shortcomings?

The claim of smoke and ash from fires in other countries is legit. It can travel thousands of miles.

Questions remain about how much of the problem is smoke and from what sources and how much is dust kicked up by vehicles and wind. Current peaks seem to be smoke but the base levels likely include a lot of dust.

Have also heard that blaming hill tribe people is off the mark, they respect and use resources from the forest and usually are careful when burning their fields.

[chanchao]

You've been in Thailand too long when ....

... you have bookmarked the site with the flooding levels for the rainy season, and the site with pollution levels for the dry season..

[MyPenRye]

My GF states (I guess from Thai news) that "last weekend at Mea Hongson fire in forest { a lot }[sic]" ... and if we add all the other forest fire's smoke (alleged, of course), then this might explains that.

Thanks for the link to the picture.

PS: "sic" should really be "sick", but how lame is that pun! (Ok! I'll answer that one ...as lame as this response!"

[Cyberstar]

... Isn’t smoke supposed to rise up?

Only while it's hot. The "dust" particles, in the smoke from a burning fire, are pushed upwards by the hot air-molecules, once these have cooled down - gravity pull rules (at least when no wind is interfering).

[ThaiGoon]

Another idea how to set an example as farang: design houses that don't need aircon. That will be easy to follow by the Thai.

Don't use aircon, except when it's necessary (i.e. for sleeping). . . . .

I think these are good ideas, but what is the connection between them and the dirty air problem?

Presumably by reducing demand for electricity, and hence pollution, from power-generation.

Does any of our local power come from clean sources, such as hydro-electric, or is it all from brown-coal-powered and deisel-generators ? Anyone know ??

Majority of electricity generated in Thailand comes from natural gas, and I have no idea how much pollution the process emits. If you wanna know the exact percentage of electricity generated by natural gas in Thailand, you can find it from the recent articles that talked about the nuclear power plant. That's where I saw it mentioned.

[PeaceBlondie]

If Chiang Mai, Lampang are in a valley, how come the smoke of the burning from neighbouring countries, several 100 Km’s away, gets somehow “sucked into” our valley? Isn’t smoke supposed to rise up? Or is it blaming those foreigners again for our own shortcomings?

The claim of smoke and ash from fires in other countries is legit. It can travel thousands of miles.

Questions remain about how much of the problem is smoke and from what sources and how much is dust kicked up by vehicles and wind. Current peaks seem to be smoke but the base levels likely include a lot of dust.

Have also heard that blaming hill tribe people is off the mark, they respect and use resources from the forest and usually are careful when burning their fields.

That's true about the smoke from burning fields, travelling far. The Mayas burn their corn fields in Chiapas and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, and the prevailing winds once drove that smoke all the way to Houston. Houston then had the most polluted air in the USA, and the smoke made it the worst ever, for many days.

But I still wonder if there are prevailing winds from all those other countries, especially since those countries are in different cardinal directions.

[Rasseru]

Majority of electricity generated in Thailand comes from natural gas, and I have no idea how much pollution the process emits. If you wanna know the exact percentage of electricity generated by natural gas in Thailand, you can find it from the recent articles that talked about the nuclear power plant. That's where I saw it mentioned.

Interesting. My understanding is that burning natural gas produces no smoke or ash of any kind.

[PeaceBlondie]

But, aren't there big lignite open-pit coal mines around Lamphun or Lampang, and a huge electric plant nearby? In other words, do we have dirty smokestalks in neighboring provinces?

[ThaiGoon]

Majority of electricity generated in Thailand comes from natural gas, and I have no idea how much pollution the process emits. If you wanna know the exact percentage of electricity generated by natural gas in Thailand, you can find it from the recent articles that talked about the nuclear power plant. That's where I saw it mentioned.

Interesting. My understanding is that burning natural gas produces no smoke or ash of any kind.

I did say that I have no idea how much pollution it emits. Anyway, my limited understading on the subject is that air pollution doesn't confine to just "smoke and ash."

[ThaiGoon]

By the way, Rasseru, I just found this website:

http://www.gascape.org/Gas%20Em.html

So I guess no smake and no ash doesn't mean no pollution.

[chanchao]

But, aren't there big lignite open-pit coal mines around Lamphun or Lampang, and a huge electric plant nearby? In other words, do we have dirty smokestalks in neighboring provinces?

We don't. We just have acres and acres of burning fields & forests, which is quite bad enough.

[KhunDennis]

There is a big coal fired electric plant in the hills outside of Lampang. Mai Mah electric plant, and also lignite mines nearby.

It is however a very high tech plant, with very little emission. On clear days, All you see is a little steam coming from the stacks. I went on a tour through it ,and it is very impresive. Got to give them credit for doing this one right.

[Rasseru]

Majority of electricity generated in Thailand comes from natural gas, and I have no idea how much pollution the process emits. If you wanna know the exact percentage of electricity generated by natural gas in Thailand, you can find it from the recent articles that talked about the nuclear power plant. That's where I saw it mentioned.

Interesting. My understanding is that burning natural gas produces no smoke or ash of any kind.

I did say that I have no idea how much pollution it emits. Anyway, my limited understading on the subject is that air pollution doesn't confine to just "smoke and ash."

Yes, of course, and I am sorry if my answer came across as implying anything critical of you. I did not mean anything of the kind. And yes, again, air pollution is not limited to smoke and ash. But the air pollution problem that is occurring right now in Chiangmai and elsewhere in northern Thailand seems to be one that is related to smoke and ash, and the kinds of dust particles that result. So if in fact our electricity is being generated by natural gas-fired power plants, then I don't think that cutting back on the use of air conditioners will make any difference to the particular air pollution problem we are experiencing.

[ThaiGoon]

I see. Cheers then.

[WaiWai]

I think chanchao should sell his photos to the newspapers & make his webpage famous !! Anyone with a blog or website should link to his page .

I hope the King and Queen will express concern and help make some alternatives to burning available.

last night I had a dream that it was raining, maybe a wishful premonition coming true soon . . .

[chanchao]

Today's data is in. It's a little better, just like I already thought this morning when i could JUST make out a faint outline of the mountain.

But still 'unhealthful'.

Edited March 7, 2007 by chanchao

[chanchao]

By the way, it actually looks MUCH clearer than yesterday. From the same spot I took those pictures, the TOT building is now clearly visible, and you can almost see an outline of the mountain.

[waveydavey]

Did drive from hang Dong to Chiang Mai around the back way yesterday morning, via the little road back of B. Tawai and going around the 3rd ring road and counted 8 fires of rubbish smoking and burning away, mostly leaves and trash, rubbish. And my eyes were burning and the sun was hardly visible through the smog screen. Pretty horrific as I see many of my friends, especially children having a hard time.

This from the Bangkok Post yesterday:

''The increasing dust level is a result of widespread forest fires in the northern provinces and in neighbouring countries including Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia,'' said Duangchai Duangthip, a specialist at the Chiang Mai-based northern environmental office.

Ms Duangchai said Thailand is currently in the peak period for forest fires, resulting in rising levels of small dust particles across the country, but Chiang Mai is worst hit because it is surrounded by mountain ranges.

If Chiang Mai, Lampang are in a valley, how come the smoke of the burning from neighbouring countries, several 100 Km’s away, gets somehow “sucked into” our valley? Isn’t smoke supposed to rise up? Or is it blaming those foreigners again for our own shortcomings?

Anyway, whatever, stay cool, stay healthy and last night I had a dream that it was raining, maybe a wishful premonition coming true soon . . .

We live in a very rural area in Nan province, approx 150km from Chiang Mai and have had the same problems as you for the last few days. We have no industry and very few cars. We can usually see the mountains about 40km away but now visibility is approx 1km. Yesterday afternoon it was 'raining' charred leaves which ties in with the Bangkok Post report.