NIDA Expert Warns of Heightened PM2.5 Levels in Bangkok Until End of Month

[webfact]

 

by Namo Vananupong

BANGKOK (NNT) - Bangkok is forecast to experience a resurgence of PM2.5 dust from now until the end of the month. An environmental chemistry expert at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has expressed the view that volatile weather in Thailand is compounding the dust situation.

 

Prof. Siwatt Pongpiachan, director of NIDA’s Center for Research & Development for Disaster Prevention & Management, said meteorological factors are the controlling factors for PM2.5 concentrations.

 

He explained that regardless of whether dust sources increase or remain the same, meteorological conditions favoring the accumulation of dust would result in high levels of airborne particulate matter. He noted there is little rain at the end and beginning of the year and this means dust in the atmosphere is not washed away.

 

Meanwhile, the lack of winds during this same period exacerbates the impacts of farm stubble burning.

 

For Bangkok, Dr. Siwatt said wind speeds change from day to day and PM2.5 levels vary depending on the wind speed. This means PM2.5 airborne dust is not swept away at the same rate each day despite dust sources in Bangkok remaining the same.

 

Dr. Siwatt suggested the government establish standard thresholds for cancer-causing substances in the atmosphere and in PM2.5 dust.

 

These would also include determining the heavy metal content in the air, aside from the lead content. He noted Thailand is lacking these analyses, which would enable the public to be informed. He added that cancer-causing substances and heavy metals directly impact everybody who breathes in the air.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-01-27

 

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[Emdog]

'...meteorological factors are the controlling factors for PM2.5 concentrations."

I suppose governments doing nothing to limit pollution, lax or non existent enforcement of burning laws etc have no impact on PM2.5 concentrations....

[SoilSpoil]

Just have a look at the pollution maps and see for yourself where the problems comes from. Farmers burning their fields, so that farm products can be sold for profit. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I always get a sad laugh when I see Thai news reports continually referring to air pollution and its most dangerous component (PM2.5 particles) as DUST, as if it's the same kind of stuff you sweep off your bedroom floor.

 

It's NOT routine dust. It's air POLLUTION... And that's comprised of all kinds of different components, including PM2.5 particles, which aren't just "dust" (and actually tend to be far smaller that typical dust particles).

 

When the farmers burn their fields and the smoke rises into the atmosphere and travels hundreds of miles, usually from the north heading south, it's not DUST that is being produced by the burning fires.....

 

But the result is nonetheless evident -- unhealthy air everywhere!

 

 

https://aqicn.org/station/thailand/bangkok/phloen-chit-road/

 

PM2.5 pollution mainly is NOT a naturally occurring phenomenon that either gets better or worse just with the weather. It's mainly a man-made phenomenon primarily the result here in Thailand of industrial pollution, vehicle pollution, agricultural pollution and burning, and construction activities, among the main contributors.

 

"Airborne particulate matter (PM) is not a single pollutant, but rather is a mixture of many chemical species. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. Particles vary widely in size, shape and chemical composition, and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust. "

 

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health

 

[John Drake]

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

But the result is nonetheless evident -- unhealthy air everywhere!

The past two days have been horrific. And nobody seems to be taking it seriously at all. Not here, not in the entire region. Not across most of east Asia. Look at Nasa firms: almost a solid red line from Korea, down through China, and across Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Not an empty spot until you get to Malaysia.

 https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:2023-01-31..2023-02-01,2023-01-31;@101.4,17.6,3z

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

8 minutes ago, John Drake said:

The past two days have been horrific. And nobody seems to be taking it seriously at all. Not here, not in the entire region. Not across most of east Asia. Look at Nasa firms: almost a solid red line from Korea, down through China, and across Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Not an empty spot until you get to Malaysia.

 https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:2023-01-31..2023-02-01,2023-01-31;@101.4,17.6,3z

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand words.... ????

 

Now:

 

And here's the comparable map for last Dec. 1:

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BKK (#11) and CM (#12) are nearing the top 10 in worst air pollution among monitored cities in the world today, right along with similar garden spots in places like China, India and Pakistan.

 

 

 

https://www.iqair.com/th-en/world-air-quality-ranking

 

[John Drake]

5 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

BKK (#11) and CM (#12) are nearing the top 10 in worst air pollution among monitored cities in the world today, right along with similar garden spots in places like China, India and Pakistan.

 

 

 

https://www.iqair.com/th-en/world-air-quality-ranking

 

One AQI reading a few streets over from me hit 218 today. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The AQI forecasts are suggesting we've got at least several more days of this...at the current red/unhealthy for all levels:

 

 

https://www.iqair.com/th-en/thailand/bangkok

 

Now's the time, when outdoors or away from HEPA air purifiers, to break out those N95 face masks, folks!  ????

 

[Celsius]

Couldn't breathe last night. 180 in Bangkok

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

13 hours ago, Celsius said:

Couldn't breathe last night. 180 in Bangkok

 

Another bad air day Thursday heading into a bad air night tonight. Expect more of the same Friday/tomorrow:

 

As of 8:30 pm tonight:

 

 

https://aqicn.org/station/thailand/bangkok/phloen-chit-road/