Minimise outdoor activities, say authorities, as air quality continues to be unsafe in many areas

By The Nation

 

 

The authority has suggested that people avoid outdoor activities and closely monitor the dust situation, as the air quality in many areas of Thailand are still below acceptable standards.

 

In Bangkok and Metropolitan region, the air quality varies from good to unsafe. Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrograms per cubic metre (PM2.5) averaged 27-66mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas, exceeding the 50mcg per cubic metre air quality standard of the department.

 

Among the area where the reading exceeded safe levels were: Kanchanaphisek Road and Din Daeng Road, Muang district in Nakhon Pathom province, Pak Kret in Nonthaburi province, Phra Pradaeng and Pak Nam in Samut Prakan province, Krathum Baen and Muang in Samut Sakhon.

 

The air quality in the Central and western region has started to affect health. PM2.5 averaged 53-84mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas.

 

The provinces where readings exceeded safe levels were some districts in Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, and Suphan Buri provinces.

 

PM10 was detected at between 87-124mcg per cubic metre, exceeds the standard at Pak Nam Pho subdistrict in Nakhon Sawan province.

 

The air quality in the North varied from very good to unsafe for health. PM2.5 averaged 17-88mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas in Lampang, Lamphun, and Phrae provinces.

 

The air quality in the Northeast was found to be moderately good to unsafe. PM2.5 averaged 47-53mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas in some districts of Nakhon Ratchasima and Loei provinces.

 

The air quality in the Eastern was similar to the Northeast. PM2.5 averaged 16-67 mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas, in some districts of Prachin Buri province.

 

The air quality in the South was found to be uniformly good.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380439

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-13

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Article:

 

"Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrograms per cubic metre (PM2.5) averaged 27-66mcg per cubic metre in over 50 areas, exceeding the 50mcg per cubic metre air quality standard of the department."

 

World Health Organization:

 

"Air quality guideline. Air quality guideline is an annual mean concentration guideline for particulate matter from the World Health Organization. The guideline stipulates that PM2. 5 not exceed 10 μg/m3 annual mean, or 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean; and that PM10 not exceed 20 μg/m3 annual mean, or 50 μg/m3 24-hour mean."

 

Thailand is right on target as usual (NOT). The books are not being cooked in Thailand. Wouldn't want to "panic" the Thai people (and others).

PM2.5 95 in my house in CNX at the moment.

So the government does zero to minimise the issue. The people have to suffer by staying indoors and then they have to become amateur scientists and monitor AQI. Why have a government?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The air quality in the North varied from very good to unsafe for health.

I don't buy it. Where is this "very good" air? The entire north is blanketed with bad air.

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The authority has suggested that people avoid outdoor activities

 

That's air pollution done, what's next problem for this government to solve, they are on a roll...

 

Oh drought.. Shower less, tick next...

Why is the news mostly negative where is the happiness?

So why don’t they spray water just like the last time since that was such a success.

Edited January 13, 20206 yr by Destiny1990

TAT can spin this for hotels with indoor pools.

 

COME TO DIE TO THAILAND.

 

56 minutes ago, legend49 said:

So the government does zero to minimise the issue. The people have to suffer by staying indoors and then they have to become amateur scientists and monitor AQI. Why have a government?

Granted...old practices of burning fields, burning trash and manufacturing without adequate pollution controls are contributing..but the problem is regional and a good portion of the problem comes from Cambodia, Laos and other regional neighbors. ASEAN must act in unison...but first must do something to elevate the economic status of those who are most likely to burn. Simply fining someone a few thousand baht who only makes 300 baht per day is not going to be effective. This is a problem that may take decades rather than a few years to fix and then only with a combined effort at educating and elevating the local regional population. 

42 minutes ago, canopy said:

I don't buy it. Where is this "very good" air? The entire north is blanketed with bad air.

 

 

Yeah triple all the numbers in the report and then we are getting closer to reality... It's a shame nothing is done about it... Very sad.

Any tourist information yet? Don't spend time outside when in Thailand.

6 minutes ago, tonray said:

Simply fining someone a few thousand baht who only makes 300 baht per day is not going to be effective. 

Yes it will.  Burning your trash or crops has serious effects on the health of children. How many chuldren end up in hospital every year? Burning is a crime, and the only way to clear up your skies is to stop this madness. Fine them, take their lands, put them in jail. People learn fast.

Dear Mum, Having a lovely time, wish you were here, jo.

26 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Any tourist information yet? Don't spend time outside when in Thailand.

What makes the air INSIDE my home any better than that OUTSIDE please?

No Problem with the air in Issan.......out with the dogs wandering around the lakes at 6 this morning.

.

 

^{I told my Doctor that my back hurts every morning when I get up---He said get up in the afternoons then}

9 minutes ago, stouricks said:

What makes the air INSIDE my home any better than that OUTSIDE please?

That's what all Thai says so I expect they give the same info to tourists.

More crops ,bigger crops ,more burning. A cycle that will never end. 

16 minutes ago, stouricks said:

What makes the air INSIDE my home any better than that OUTSIDE please?

That is very true unless you have doors windows shut and your air purifier on.

 

It rained very heavily last night, I went in the village pools this morning and the water tasted dusty.

 

In my house now AQI 76 and 2.5 is 58

 

I live just off Prachachuen rd near the junction with Chaengwattana

44 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

Fine them, take their lands, put them in jail. People learn fast.

????????????????????????

1 hour ago, canopy said:

I don't buy it. Where is this "very good" air? The entire north is blanketed with bad air.

 

 

 

48 minutes ago, hobz said:

Yeah triple all the numbers in the report and then we are getting closer to reality... It's a shame nothing is done about it... Very sad.

It's criminal the way the lie to their own people and the locals have no idea. Too busy worrying about those pesky plastic bags throwing themselves everywhere in total ignorance. 

I am limiting my outdoor activities, I left Thailand because of the air quality. Thailand is a major health hazard.

Just breathe less, problem solved. This government is awesome !

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The authority has suggested that people avoid outdoor activities and closely monitor the dust situation, as the air quality in many areas of Thailand are still below acceptable standards.

What is the acceptable standard?
I remember a promise made by a minister of yours team, that ensured that they had clean air in a few weeks, this now months ago!

34 minutes ago, BenDoon said:

More crops ,bigger crops ,more burning. A cycle that will never end. 

More burning, more CO2, the more plant growth, the more burning.

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

Why is the news mostly negative where is the happiness?

So why don’t they spray water just like the last time since that was such a success.

Because there is a drought, and therefore no water............

Reminds of the old song..........There's a hole in my bucket...........

 

PM2.5 87 in my house in Suratthani at the moment.

 

so i hua hin tourists are still blissfully unaware of the danger they are in as they sit on the beach surrounded by haze. meanwhile on the main road and less than 100 meters away, locals are walking around with masks on.

 

seriously, i'm not sure how tourism is going to survive here if Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Hua Hin are all unsafe to be outside for MOST of high season and ALL of peak season.

 

and don't think down south will be safe in the long term unless there is a significant change of policy. i've seen Phuket up above 80 AQI this week. thats where Hua Hin was just last year.

 

1 minute ago, AsterixThai said:

PM2.5 87 in my house in Suratthani at the moment.

 

 

see my post above, my point exactly, it's getting much worse

This is in reference to the question about 'the difference between inside and outside air qualities'

It doesn't. I did some research with a friend and the strange thing was that we found evidence that the air quality inside your property was normally much worse than outside. I know this sounds very strange, but it seems to be true based on the fact that there is less air circulation inside than outside. The smallest particulates 'pm2.5' are the most injurious to health in the long-term as they get trapped in your lungs and lodge there. Only a HEPA filter will trap these very small particulates. I understand that 3M sell a certified HEPA facemask that one can buy.

Edited January 13, 20206 yr by cheshiremusicman
missing quote that I was responding to.