Us Embassy Warning On Air Quality In Northern Thailand

[Robroy]

from http://www.udif.or.th/290350.htm

The American Citizen Services Section of the U.S. Embassy has issued a warden message alerting American citizens living in or visiting northern Thailand to the need to take appropriate health-related precautions due to the unhealthful air quality northern Thailand is currently experiencing. ( Warden Message)

Warden Message

March 15, 2007

This message alerts American citizens living in or visiting northern Thailand to the need to take appropriate health-related precautions due to the unhealthful air quality northern Thailand is currently experiencing. Air quality experts report that excessive trash burning, brush clearing, forest fires and other factors have resulted in severe air contamination in the areas surrounding Chiang Mai. According to the Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, air pollution levels in Chiang Mai have exceeded the maximum acceptable level since the beginning of March. On March 14, the level of particulate matter in the air exceeded the “emergency” level. Measurements at or near the “emergency” level are expected for at least the next several days.

Health professionals warn that during periods of unhealthful air quality, people with respiratory or heart disease, smokers, elderly persons, and children should avoid prolonged exertion and stay indoors when possible. In addition, everyone should limit activity and prolonged exertion, both indoors and out. This includes exercising in air conditioned fitness centers, since any additional strain on the respiratory system during periods of unhealthful air quality should be avoided.

Medical professionals also note that cloth masks or bandannas are generally ineffective in reducing smoke inhalation. In order for a mask to work, it must filter fine particles. More functional masks are available at pharmacies, such as the N95 respirator mask available for about 50-55 baht per mask. One size does not fit all. Please choose a correct fit and follow all instructions to ensure proper effectiveness. The recommended maximum use time for most respirators is 7-8 hours.

Day-by-day particulate matter (PM 10) and air quality statistics are available in English on the Pollution Control Department website at http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/Default.cfm and at the consulate’s website, http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consulcm/index.htm.

[Robroy]

Further to the above:

Yes, that warning was issued on March 15.

However the worst carcinogens (<PM10s) have been at dangerous levels on 12 of the days since then; close to dangerous levels on 6 days; and well below the "dangerous" threshold on only 7 days.

Today they are at 111.4 - 8.6 below the "dangerous" threshold of 120.

The CM governor recently claimed that tourists should come to CM for Songkran because he could "guarantee" that all the smoke would be gone by then. He can guarantee no such thing. In 1999, a year very similar to this one, dangerous levels of <PM10s persisted till June. They were well over 100 till late June.

In the interests of not dying of lung cancer, I moved permanently to Krabi province ten days ago. Both my gf and I noticed that the coughs, sneezing fits, stinging eyes and streaming noses that had plagued us for many months disappeared instantly.

A good English language website on the CM air and general environment, for those interested, is:

http://www.udif.or.th/indexE.htm

[Awk]

from http://www.udif.or.th/290350.htm

The American Citizen Services Section of the U.S. Embassy has issued a warden message alerting American citizens living in or visiting northern Thailand to the need to take appropriate health-related precautions due to the unhealthful air quality northern Thailand is currently experiencing. ( Warden Message)

Warden Message

March 15, 2007

Medical professionals also note that cloth masks or bandannas are generally ineffective in reducing smoke inhalation. In order for a mask to work, it must filter fine particles. More functional masks are available at pharmacies, such as the N95 respirator mask available for about 50-55 baht per mask. One size does not fit all. Please choose a correct fit and follow all instructions to ensure proper effectiveness. The recommended maximum use time for most respirators is 7-8 hours.

Does anyone know a place where the N95, or similar, can be purchased in bulk/larger quantities?

So far I've been using whatever mask the pharmacy I walk into has, but have always been dubious as to what, if

any effect it has, and according to the above, it is not much.

[chanchao]

Today they are at 111.4 - 8.6 below the "dangerous" threshold of 120.

Correction: 96.2 111.4 was yesterday.

We'll blast that (*@$(*#& pollution out of the sky on Songkran... YEAH!!!!!

[DavidOxon]

Unhealthful? UNHEALTHFUL???

What sort of a word is that?

Doesn't appear in ANY of our English dictionaries!

D

[Jingthing]

Uh uh, American bashing to follow. It is a word. Grow up.

un·health·ful

–adjective

not conducive to good health; unwholesome: unhealthful food.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unhealthful

Edited April 9, 2007 by Jingthing

[DavidOxon]

Ok, in some places it might be a word, but

it's a mighty ugly one, and does nothing

any better than unhealthy which is much

prettier not having a nasty thf in the middle!