Bangkok pollution is so bad, Public Health Ministry advises people to work from home

[webfact]

Bangkok pollution is so bad, Public Health Ministry advises people to work from home

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Dr Opas Kankawipong told the Thai media that people could consider working from home as Bangkok and its surrounding areas were swathed in PM2.5 pollution. 

 

Dr Opas admitted that the pollution had reached unacceptable levels and said it had happened quickly and was affecting different areas in different ways. 

 

He cautioned about engaging in outside activities for prolonged periods though much of the risk depends on which activity. 

 

He cautioned that vulnerable groups like the very young, old, pregnant women and those with heart, respiratory, allergies and skin conditions should take particular care. 

 

Asked about delivery drivers and policemen who must spend a long time outside in their jobs he said that N95 masks were awkward to wear but there are specialist masks for PM2.5 for these high risk groups.

 

For the rest of the population a normal surgical mask would suffice, two layers were not necessary. 

 

His call to work from home was just a suggestion if people are able to do so because it would limit the amount of matter in the air from vehicle emissions of people travelling to work. 

 

He said there was no credible data to correlate the effect of PM2.5 on the potential spread of Covid-19.  

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

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[keith101]

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

would limit the amount of matter in the air from vehicle emissions of people travelling to work. 

Might i suggest it has more to do with farmers burning rather than vehicle emissions although the amount of cars etc in Bangkok is horendous .

I think the PM2.5 would be of the Health Departments area rather than the DDC,s as it is not a disease .

Edited December 16, 2020 by keith101

[patman30]

when the fear machine is running out of steam.......

[lupin]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He cautioned about engaging in outside activities for prolonged periods though much of the risk depends on which activity. 

....such as breathing.

[hasitha77]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

advises people to work from home

Is it because of PM 2.5 or fear of second wave

[fruitman]

But of course it can't be the farmers burning fields...nahh....and also not them fuming buses in the city...no way....it must be from a neighbouring country, chai chai...

[jvs]

Same thing every year and when it starts raining?Problem solved!

They have all year to try and improve things but of course they hope it will be gone next year around.

Guess what?Even worse this year.

Thailand needs a real government and some people with balls (maybe a woman?) to tackle these problems.

A lot of people will not be happy about it but there is no need for pick-up trucks to leave a trail

of smoke behind or for farmers to burn rice straw and sugar cane.

We have the laws already,no need for more regulations.

Need for enforcement!

[ezzra]

Hey Dr. Opas, the boss said for you to release a statement to the media if you justify your position, say somethings along the line of pollution, PM2.5  thingmathing, and stay home type of words and don't worry about how accurate or true are those statements are Ok?...

[4MyEgo]

13 minutes ago, jvs said:

A lot of people will not be happy about it but there is no need for pick-up trucks to leave a trail

of smoke behind or for farmers to burn rice straw and sugar cane.

 

I read an interesting article here on TVF about a week or two ago where some province Mayor and the banks are now using some tractors to collect the rice straw, pay the farmers and on sell it which I though is a great idea, no more burning, hope that spreads like fire so to speak.

 

Also the other day I said to the wife that the sisters neighbours who lease the land off the uncle had just harvested the sugar cane and I saw a tractor loading it up on a truck, I saw no sugar cane burning, and her reply was they now have special tractors to do the job and there is no way her uncle would allow them to burn the sugar cane, besides its getting expensive to get people to do it as they have to pay them the wage and 3 meals and the sugar company pays them less for the harvest if burnt. The burning is supposed to be done so the workers will come as they don't like working with sugar cane that is not burnt as they get itchy ?

 

I hope the above also spreads, need to breath some fresh air, next thing to tackle is the elderly in the village who just can't survive without burning something, leave, branches etc etc

 

14 minutes ago, jvs said:

We have the laws already,no need for more regulations.

Need for enforcement!

 

Never going to happen here.

[edwinchester]

Rural Kanchanaburi has bad air quality too same as it has this time of year for as long as I've been here. I don't have to check my calendar as I develop an irritating cough end of November regular as clockwork.

Nobody who has the power to do something about the problem gives a <deleted>.

[Yom]

3 hours ago, fruitman said:

But of course it can't be the farmers burning fields...nahh....and also not them fuming buses in the city...no way....it must be from a neighbouring country, chai chai...

You might remember Pete Seeger:

To everything
There is a season 
And a time to every purpose, under heaven...

 

Of course it's multifactorial.

So many causes...

The only numbers I know of comes from India. 'farmers burning fields' are 25 %.

So you're absolutely right, 'fuming buses', 'neighbouring country(ies)' and all the others

(power plants, cement producers, construction sites, abrasion from tires and brake pads,

communal incineration, private burning etc.)

are only 75 %.

 

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr Opas admitted that the pollution had reached unacceptable levels and said it had happened quickly and was affecting different areas in different ways. 

Has it, now? Here is something for you: 

Cause and effect is a relationship between events or things, where one is the result of the other or others. This is a combination of action and reaction.

Oh well, nevermind.

[TheFishman1]

[Jimbo2014]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

His call to work from home was just a suggestion if people are able to do so because it would limit the amount of matter in the air from vehicle emissions of people travelling to work. 

 

OK thats great and we cant argue with this.  How about a call to farmers to stop burning their crops and endangering millions of people for a few baht profit?  How about enforcing laws?

[lesmac]

[Kaopad999]

Not sure what's more dangerous. This pollution of Covid? 

[zhounan]

Yes, the brand "New Normal", "Stay at Home", "Work at Home" can be used in various situation now.

[johnarth]

if nothing else will get rid of the general the farmers will

[owenm]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

For the rest of the population a normal surgical mask would suffice, two layers were not necessary. 

With high levels of PM2.5, a single layer surgical face mask would suffice? Who is he kidding! Even a triple layer mask won't filter PM2.5.. 

[spidermike007]

And absolutely nothing is being done to address this tragic and dangerous situation, which only seems to get worst each year. 

 

This represents a stunning derilection of duty on the part of Prayuth, Anutin and the rest of this hugely incompetent administration. For this reason alone, Prayuth should resign. He has failed. Thailand is moving backwards on a dozen levels. 

[Bangkok Barry]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

policemen who must spend a long time outside in their jobs

 

6 hours ago, jvs said:

Need for enforcement!

 

I have a friend in the US who sought my advice on whether Chiang Mai would be suitable for her elderly father who has health problems to retire to. I let her know in no uncertain terms that it would be a very, very bad idea.

[Seeall]

7 hours ago, fruitman said:

But of course it can't be the farmers burning fields...nahh....and also not them fuming buses in the city...no way....it must be from a neighbouring country, chai chai...

 

From Dirty Farangs?

[marc651]

8 hours ago, keith101 said:

Might i suggest it has more to do with farmers burning rather than vehicle emissions although the amount of cars etc in Bangkok is horendous .

 

It has certainly to do with traffic. 

Have you seen the black smoke from the diesel pickups, trucks, busses?

One Thai dieselcar emits as much as a thousand Euro6 diesels.

 

The emission norms are part of the problem. The government could just implement the Euro6 norm for new engines, and for Euro6 fuel as well.  But this is planned for 2029 only. 

 

And thats for new cars only ... before the old ones get replaced you are looking at 2049 then.  Brace for another 30 years of smog.

 

 

[Truth Will Set You Free]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok pollution is so bad, Public Health Ministry advises people to work from home

Work from home? What percentage of businesses has that capability for their employees to work from home? It is hard to get them to work at work, I can imagine what it going to be from home...........????????????????????????

[Truth Will Set You Free]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

He cautioned about engaging in outside activities for prolonged periods though much of the risk depends on which activity. 

Ok, hanging out at the beaches is sure # one.  Playing golf or hitting balls at the driving range is another one.  Constructions and mobile food vendors. 
 

Now, this is one you need to check at your home. Close all the windows. Dust mopp that morning. Then dust mop that evening.  Here is what I got. It’s not only bad outside, but inside too. You can not escape it. I do this everyday because it’s that bad.  How many people lives in Thailand that don’t have windows in their home? How can they be protected from this air pollution? 
 

So what is the government doing about it? N O, T H, ING; nothing but nothing.......
 

 

[bimmerbob]

12 hours ago, jvs said:

Need for enforcement!

 

They probably look upon enforcement as tantamount to making people lose face..........
What they really need is an ability to: 

a) acknowledge their procedural shortcomings, including 'passing the buck'
b) acknowledge that their education system needs overhauling so that they can communicate with the rest of the world.
c) install some bodies within government who are keen on getting things done rather than just attend meetings.
d) have proper channels of communications
e) simplify their visa systems (including work permits) so that they appear more welcoming
f) Introduce a liveable wage for the police & teachers
g) Modernise their sewer systems
h) Identify their 'red tape' hindrances and dispense them  
i) cut out unnecessary gov committees

j) Become proactive in 'name & shame' schemes with appropriate punishments........

.........getting a headache now despite having a couple of refreshing beers..........
I am sure others have things to add..........

 
 

[Ireland32]

13 hours ago, patman30 said:

when the fear machine is running out of steam.......

Not much of a reader of News,  I gather 

[Meat Pie 47]

1 hour ago, Truth Will Set You Free said:

Work from home? What percentage of businesses has that capability for their employees to work from home? It is hard to get them to work at work, I can imagine what it going to be from home...........????????????????????????

Yes ask all the street vendors to work from home

[hotchilli]

On 12/16/2020 at 8:06 AM, webfact said:

Bangkok pollution is so bad, Public Health Ministry advises people to work from home

Same advice as they gave last year, so nothings changed then.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 12/16/2020 at 8:06 AM, webfact said:

Asked about delivery drivers and policemen who must spend a long time outside in their jobs he said that N95 masks were awkward to wear but there are specialist masks for PM2.5 for these high risk groups.

 

For the rest of the population a normal surgical mask would suffice, two layers were not necessary. 

 

Hey Doc!  Got news for you. For us normal population folks -- wearing a "normal surgical mask" regardless of whether it's one or two layers will do little to nothing to prevent a person from inhaling PM2.5 from the ambient air.

 

N95 masks, on the other hand, will prevent a person from breathing in most PM2.5... But good luck for months now anywhere in Thailand trying to find a legitimate, non-fake, non-Chinese-made N95 mask. Can't even get the real ones in the U.S. right now, as all the tested and proven 3M ones are being diverted to medical facility/personnel use.

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK