Bangkok Pollution

[yabs]

How bad is it and what are the health consequences?

[lazeeboy]

How bad is it and what are the health consequences?

just walk round for a couple of hours or until your headaches and blow your nose you could grow things in what comes out

[gummy]

How bad is it and what are the health consequences?

The last few days it has been quite windy which has cleared some of the traffic originated pollution but as the winds have been coming from N / NW I suspect that the high level haze seen may be a combination of general pollution in the city compounded with some smoke and dust from the North.

[Jamie]

How bad is it and what are the health consequences?

The health consequences really depend on your length of exposure. If you are there for a short time, it may be watery eyes, sore throat, coughing, stuffy nose etc. The particulate matter in the air though has been shown cause lung and cardio vascular damage over many years, among other things.

[camerata]

The health consequences really depend on your length of exposure.

For me it took several years of walking home from work five nights a week (about 30 minutes) to develop what's known as occupational bronchitis. The bronchitis (dry cough and constricted chest) lasted nearly 6 months and I was left with permanently compromised lungs. What happens is the toxins paralyze the cilia in the lungs that carry particulate matter away before it does any damage. Now I can't walk in the street for more than about 10 minutes on weekdays or go near incense, mosquito coils, etc.

Two friends have developed asthma from the pollution here. That's even worse.