Chiang Mai presently ‘most polluted city in world’

[Megascott]

15 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

LMFAO!

When you compare the area which measures in the 180's or higher, your talking about the equivalent area of roughly just one small part of Bangkok and relatively few people.

 

I live in SanPatong and of course I have a HEPA filter in my Bedroom and it's sealed up pretty good from outside air, so naturally i walk outside this morning and yes, the air quality is degraded slightly as compared to yesterday. I would estimate the visibility here is about 5 miles. I've lived in India. No way is it anywhere even close to that, with huge swaths the size of Texas with air quality so bad you can't see 1/4 mile away, not just one day, but for weeks at a time. 

 

Me thinks these people doing the measuring are right in the path of localized smoke from a farmer burning a Rice field. Those are way crazy totally exaggerated numbers.

 

S.

[ICELANDMAN]

12 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

 

If you  are thinking of leaving Damascase, why not consider Udon Thani. Polution free, with a long dry season, and some decent fishing. An 'International airport' and a lot of chess-playing Lao ladies. And as we know Laos has not had any China virus cases yet so mixing with these girls is safe; not even a need for a mask, as you stare at each other across the board.

 

 

 

You will be made welcome.

Udon Thani Pollution free ? Yes because not control pollution......same Covid19 not control not problem

[Logosone]

Actually air quality in the UK is worse than in Thailand. 

 

 

[SaamBaht]

The bad air will definitely exacerbate the Wuhan Virus. It attacks weakened lungs and there is nothing like clouds of smoke to weaken your lungs. 

[owl sees all]

13 minutes ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Udon Thani Pollution free ? Yes because not control pollution......same Covid19 not control not problem

Great stuff.

 

There is pollution in Udon Thani, but it is buried underground somewhere. I refer to Agent Orange, which was stored in the city (thousand of drums of it), for use in Laos and Vietnam. When the US military departed, it was left behind. Not a concern until the drums decay and the poison seeps out. But in the meantime Udon Thanites can enjoy their life pollution free. A few little fires don't bother us.

 

An ex-serviceman friend of mine has been trying to get info' on Agent Orange for 20 years. No luck to date.

Edited March 11, 2020 by owl sees all

[RabCNesbitt]

Well I've lived and worked here in Chiang Mai for 14 years.... I am sad to say that the straw has finally broken the camel's back. I will be leaving. It used to be so good - I guess at least I have the memories of the good years.

[Postmaster]

Ventenio, Me too buddy that's just how I feel about Chiang Mai.  When Ex-pats tell me they are leaving the

resort areas to relocate to Chiang Mai, I always tell them "Think again"  Stay by the sea air look at the pollution stats up there.

 

[kwak250]

Imagine saying you are going on holiday to India for some nice fresh clean air if you lived in Chiang Mai.

[PEE TEE]

Jeez the air is so bad ..covid 19 screamed  and run away 

[Logosone]

According to the most recent annual pollution figures from Swiss firm IQAir Chiang Mai is not even in the top 50 of most polluted cities:

 

https://www.iqair.com/world-most-polluted-cities

[spidermike007]

Just another very good reason to get rid of the army. The Thai people need to wake up to the fact that these clowns are doing nothing for them, making life worse, decimating the tourism industry, and lowering the quality of life for all but the top 5%. Kick them out now. Rise up. Demand change.

 

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land. 

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century. 

 

Then they can move on to tackle the sale of diesel vehicles, and the government's enthusiastic support of such. It is inane in this day and age. Most nations are moving away from diesel for good reasons. When they are not well maintained, they foul the air, with large, nasty particles. And who properly maintains their vehicle here? 

 

[geriatrickid]

8 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Actually air quality in the UK is worse than in Thailand. 

 

Seasonal temperature inversions do cause  smog warnings and high readings etc.

Anyway, I believe the topic was Chian Mai, you know, the  city in Northern Thailand that attracts a lot of elderly retirees? They can enjoy their twilight years on a respirator.

[SiSePuede419]

AQI 239?

 

That's nothing. ????

 

 

[PEE TEE]

3 minutes ago, Logosone said:

According to the most recent annual pollution figures from Swiss firm IQAir Chiang Mai is not even in the top 50 of most polluted cities:

 

https://www.iqair.com/world-most-polluted-cities

 

[Logosone]

1 minute ago, geriatrickid said:

Seasonal temperature inversions do cause  smog warnings and high readings etc.

Anyway, I believe the topic was Chian Mai, you know, the  city in Northern Thailand that attracts a lot of elderly retirees? They can enjoy their twilight years on a respirator.

 

I was a bit shocked to see the UK had a worse position in the ranking of most polluted countries than Thailand. It's hard to believe air pollution figures in the UK are that high.

 

Anyway, regarding Chiang Mai there is now a seasonal spike, but overall, the true annual comparison figures give a totally different picture, Chiang Mai is not even in the top 50 of most polluted cities:

 

https://www.iqair.com/world-most-polluted-cities

 

Of course the air is bad in March. Everyone knows that. Yes in March there are days when the air quality in Chiang Mai can be the worst in the world. But that does not mean Chiang Mai is the most polluted city in the world. Looking at annual figures, Chiang Mai doesn't even make the top 50.

[techno]

In Sansai this morning (Wednesday) readings of 281 and 215 AQI

I have 2 Air purifiers on full in the house trying to get the readings as low as possible. Yesterday they were on most of the day. Have not ventured out for a few days. If this does not kill you the virus will

[Logosone]

Thanks Techno, I also have two air purifier on turbo. I've also put filter paper on the air con filter. Air inside the house is superb right now.

[Isaan sailor]

No wonder TaT recruits Chinese and Indian tourists.  They feel right at home with high AQI’s.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Chiang Mai presently ‘most polluted city in world’

The governor must be proud of his achievement.. I'm sure a handshake is in the post from the PM's office.

The only piece of good news to share at the moment... shame it's a 1st at being the worst!!

 

[sahibji]

since chiang mai is located in the north which has more jungle and thus greenery it is surprising that chiang mai is so polluted. looks like a man made problem caused by burnings.

[Forza2002]

Very bad this morning in San Kamphaeng...????????????

[sahibji]

19 hours ago, New beginnings said:

Well done Chiangmai, finally number 1. Now if we can just be honest about the actual number of people infected by the Coronavirus we could be top of that league as well.

looks like burning is the culprit which ought to be able to be handled.

[Ron jeremy]

Chang- nobyl, jewel of Thailand. 

Who wouldn't want to retire there!

[sahibji]

2 hours ago, CMNightRider said:

Great job Chiang Mai, and a shout out to all those who torch their rice fields and forested areas every year to make this happen.  

so looks like it is a man made problem.

[sahibji]

1 minute ago, Ron jeremy said:

Chang- nobyl, jewel of Thailand. 

Who wouldn't want to retire there!

jewel it may be but looks like it has lost of its shine if the air quality is so poor.

[Forza2002]

Back to No.1 The Chiang Mai governor should be so proud of this achievement.

[Rod the Sod]

48 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Great stuff.

 

There is pollution in Udon Thani, but it is buried underground somewhere. I refer to Agent Orange, which was stored in the city (thousand of drums of it), for use in Laos and Vietnam. When the US military departed, it was left behind. Not a concern until the drums decay and the poison seeps out. But in the meantime Udon Thanites can enjoy their life pollution free. A few little fires don't bother us.

 

An ex-serviceman friend of mine has been trying to get info' on Agent Orange for 20 years. No luck to date.

Tell him to visit the war Museums in Vietnam (Hanoi and Saigon) - he will get plenty of information and meet people who have suffered in real life. A shameful chapter in world history. Of course most of those responsible are either dead now or retired somewhere a long long way from Udon Thani/

[Forza2002]

Bad everywhere today in CNX..

[Brickbat]

2 hours ago, Ventenio said:

have you considered leaving?  why were you there in the first place, don't you know it's the worst burning season ever.  if not, why are you still there?  i'm not trolling, i'm just asking.  if i go to a war zone and stay one night, i don't then book another week.  i leave.  i'm trying to help you get healthier, but i'm not sure this is your goal.  so i'm curious.  

 

yes, i think we should be shamed if we (westerners) do stupid things like hang out in the worst pollution in the world.  come on, our parents would not be happy at us.

It’s not an easy decision when one has a gf who works , and I am not one to hop skip and jump. I love routine. But getting to the point where I might jump. Anger building up at this nations utter stupidity. Health is wealth , I keep telling myself . 

[isaantom]

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is a very simple solution

Good plan.

Can't work.

Corruption.