Thai health authorities warn air pollution will be WORSE this year than last - especially for Covid patients

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Health authorities in Thailand have pointed to a worse situation this cool season for air pollution related to PM2.5 - particulate matter in the air.

 

It will be worse this year and people with underlying health conditions and those who catch Covid-19 are particularly at risk.

 

But neither health minister Anutin Charnvirakul or CCSA spokesman Dr Opas Kankavinpong said what the government planned to do about it.

 

Daily News quoted Anutin, also the DPM, as saying that over the next 2-3 months people should continue to wear masks to protect against Covis and PM2.5.

 

Regular masks offer some protection against air-pollution but N95 ones are best. 

 

He said that working from home, car sharing and checking vehicle emissions would all help.

 

Dr Opas said this year would be worse than last for two reasons.

 

Last year there was a lockdown and this year atmospheric conditions would moree greatly exacerbate the problems. 

 

He warned people with conditions like heart ailments, respiratory tract problems, kidney and skin conditions to take especial care.

 

He also said that as Covid resembles flu in some respects the condition would be worsened by PM2.5.

 

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[law ling]

Thanks for the warning Minister - but, hey, why not do something about it.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, law ling said:

Thanks for the warning Minister - but, hey, why not do something about it.

Of course they’ll do something about it…

 

…. They’ll have a ‘crack-down’….

Just like last year & the years before !! 

[choff56]

In other news, everything will be worse this year than last, "especially for Covid patients".

[michael888]

Due to ..... AGRI BURNING OF SUGAR CANE AND RICE FIELDS.  "atmospheric conditions" have nothing to do with anything.  It may be the reason it comes in this direction, but the SOURCE of all this PM 2.5 comes from one thing.  

It's due to massive fires blazing throughout the whole country. CP, other corporations and farmers save money by using agri-burning to prepare and harvest rice and sugar. There are other options but they would rather pollute the air - killing , hospitalizing, and taking years off of people's lives.

[John Drake]

Yes! This is just the sort of news to drive that high spending, high quality tourism they want during "high season."

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Thai health authorities warn air pollution will be WORSE this year

That's what happens when you refuse to do anything about an issue: it gets worse..., but thanks for the warning.

Could always be a step ahead of the PM 2.5 cloud by travelling to a clean area - and then get killed on the road..., and thanks for that as well, Thai Government.

 

[vandeventer]

5 hours ago, law ling said:

Thanks for the warning Minister - but, hey, why not do something about it.

He is, he is telling you to buy more masks.

[koolkarl]

They have been saying the same thing for years yet nothing has been done.

Most of the air pollution blows in from China, if you look at the wind direction chart.

But these same politicians have to breathe the same air and refuse to stand up for a natural right

of breathing clean air.  And as far as I am concerned, this persistent, deadly air pollution is far worse

than covid.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

It will be worse this year and people with underlying health conditions and those who catch Covid-19 are particularly at risk.

Time the government and provincial governors got off their preverbials and did something positive about air pollution.

Not just talk about knee jerk crackdowns.

[Benmart]

LOL. I suppose in past years the frail elderly, those with asthma, chronic bronchitis, upper respiratory infections and other related lung conditions didn't qualify for any productive and measurable action by those supposedly able to improve the air quality. So pathetic.

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

It will be worse this year

[Isaan sailor]

Only reason the air in Isaan is still good—had heavy rains later in the season, September and October.  Many (if not most) patties still have water.

[brucegoniners]

I just love the headlines here. Gives me a daily laugh...

[joloit]

With this kind of warning, we can rest assure, that the high quality tourists will be flocking in to spend their holidays in an air polluted country. Fascinating!!

[brewsterbudgen]

30 minutes ago, joloit said:

With this kind of warning, we can rest assure, that the high quality tourists will be flocking in to spend their holidays in an air polluted country. Fascinating!!

It's never stopped them before.

[Archie Baker]

On 12/17/2021 at 9:18 AM, law ling said:

Thanks for the warning Minister - but, hey, why not do something about it.

Stop burning sugar cane would be a good start.  Clean up sugar cane refineries exhuast emissions would also have a huge impact. 

[TooMuchTime]