Bangkok reports low air quality in 12 areas

[webfact]

 

by Tanakorn Sangiam
    
BANGKOK (NNT) - Airborne dust is impacting air quality in some parts of Bangkok, as the city hall is encouraging people in 12 affected areas to avoid outdoor activities.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) today reported higher than standard levels of airborne dust particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) at 12 measurement stations within the capital, suggesting an unhealthy amount of air quality.

 

According to the city hall, PM2.5 exceeded the safety threshold of 50 micrograms per cubic meter in 12 locations, including Phetkasem 81 in Nong Khaem district; Bang Sue District Office; Odeon Circle in Samphanthawong district; in front of Seacon Square shopping mall in Prawet district; Bang Phlat District Office; in front of Lat Krabang Hospital in Lat Krabang District; Khlong Sam Wa District Office; at the entrance of Thonburi Market (Sanam Luang 2) in Thawi Watthana district; by the Bank of Ayutthaya head office in Yannawa district; in front of Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall in Pathumwan district; at Phutthamonthon Sai 1 - Borommaratchachonnani intersection in Taling Chan district; and in front of the Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district.

 

The city hall said it has a response plan for this year’s haze disaster. It set a target to provide a 3-day air pollution forecast, which can be displayed on the BMA Traffic app and traffic information signage operated by the city’s Traffic and Transportation Department.

 

The city is to increase the number of air quality measurement stations from 557 locations to 1,000, while conducting exhaust fume tests on cars and trucks more frequently.

 

The Ministry of Public Health is encouraging the general public to check the latest air quality status before leaving home on the Air4Thai mobile app, or visit the Pollution Control Department’s air4thai.pcd.go.th website.

 

The app and the website will show the levels of air pollution in color-coded tiers, with the orange tier representing an unhealthy amount of airborne particles, and the red tier representing very unhealthy air quality.

 

The public is asked to refrain from staying out amidst unhealthy air. They should wear a face mask outside if needed. However, everyone is strongly discouraged to stay outside for a long period of time without appropriate protective gear during the unhealthy air period.

 

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221021085413679

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-10-21

 

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[habuspasha]

My search for a home in Hua Hin has recently been stalled by my coughing, scratchy throat and my discovery of high air pollution numbers.  Like the authors of the AQI site for HH, I assumed that “it stands to reason that Hua Hin could definitely improve its pollution levels, especially as a coastal city which is subject to stronger coastal winds that should by most standards blow away a lot of pollution.”  My question is:  Can it?  Will it? Are there plans to curb pollution levels attributed to motorcycle exhaust, open fires, and other human causes?  Or should I just look somewhere else (like Phuket)?

[SoilSpoil]

Lot of pollution in the rural provinces around Bangkok. Sugarcane harvesting started again? Hua Hin and Chaa-am are also experiencing code red. But keep ignoring the white elephant in the room, farmers setting their fields on fire so that the big corps keep their profit margins.

[MrJ2U]

Need to wear masks. 

[K2938]

12 hours ago, habuspasha said:

my discovery of high air pollution numbers

While not perfect, a current air quality index of 80 in Hua Hin does not seem so bad

 

https://aqicn.org/station/thailand/hua-hin/ทม.หัวหิน-ต.หัวหิน-อ.หัวหิน-จ.ประจวบคีรีขันธ์-กอ.รมน.ประจวบคีรีขันธ์/#/z/14

Phuket makes up for the better air quality with lots and lots of rain

Edited October 21, 2022 by K2938

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Airborne dust is impacting air quality in some parts of Bangkok, as the city hall is encouraging people in 12 affected areas to avoid outdoor activities.

And it's voted the best leisure city?

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, habuspasha said:

My search for a home in Hua Hin has recently been stalled by my coughing, scratchy throat and my discovery of high air pollution numbers.  Like the authors of the AQI site for HH, I assumed that “it stands to reason that Hua Hin could definitely improve its pollution levels, especially as a coastal city which is subject to stronger coastal winds that should by most standards blow away a lot of pollution.”  My question is:  Can it?  Will it? Are there plans to curb pollution levels attributed to motorcycle exhaust, open fires, and other human causes?  Or should I just look somewhere else (like Phuket)?

Central Hua Hin is fast becoming a concrete jungle, buildings going up on every parcel of land, roads being built to bring in higher numbers of vehicles, fast track train which will bring in larger numbers of people and a slowly more functional airport.

Unless you reside on the outer fringes you will be subjected to pollution of all kinds.

[habuspasha]

Responses like "80 is not perfect but" tell me that change is not going to happen.  And blaming the "concrete jungle" is not the answer.  It's true that paving the planet reduces air quality but I live in the original "concrete jungle" (Manhattan) where the air quality now is good.  Speaking of which, the prior prototype for poor air quality was SMOG as in Los Angeles in the '70s.  I remember alerts for children to stay indoors (as in Bangkok today) and the rare day when you could actually see the mountains from the very unurban Westside of LA.  Since then LA has become a dense concrete web.  But the AQI is in the green.  Change happens in response to Will and Policy.

[chilly07]

SW monsoon finished and NE winds blow pollution in from China.  Air so thick you can't see the clouds.  Torrential downpours appear out of nowhere but can't wash the particles  away. 

[Iamfalang]

I'll say it again................. 7 million people die every year because of pollution.  likely higher.

 

It won't happen to me!! not to me!!!! everyone else but not me!!!

 

We live in one of the most polluted places on Earth...

 

not me!!!! not me!!!!   OK OK OK