Bangkok’s air pollution causing grave concern in parts of the city

[snoop1130]

Air pollution very high in Bangkok

 

Air pollution has become a major concern in Thailand as the haze pollution has exceeded safe levels in 36 provinces, mainly in the North. Bangkok and surrounding provinces are also currently blanketed in smog, which is expected to continue for two more days.

 

This has led the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to advise residents to wear face masks and avoid outdoor activities. The BMA warned that fine-dust levels climbed above safe levels in several areas of the city on Tuesday morning.

 

Air-quality monitoring stations have reported that the level of PM2.5, which refers to particulate matter under 2.5 micrometres in diameter, ranged from 61 to 93 micrograms per cubic metre (mcg) of air in 69 areas of the city on Tuesday morning.

 

Any level above 50mcg is considered unsafe as long-term exposure is linked to chronic diseases, including lung and heart problems.

 

“The BMA is urging city residents who have difficulty breathing, eye inflammation, chest pain, or headaches after going outside to see a doctor.”

 

To raise awareness, the BMA has provided a list of the ten areas in Bangkok with the highest levels of PM2.5.

 

The Bueng Kum district office had the highest level at 93mcg, followed by Seacon Square in Prawet district and Chaloem Phrakiat Ror 9 Park in Minburi district, both at 87mcg. Other areas with high levels of PM2.5 include Lat Krabang Hospital, Khlong Sam Wa district office, Nong Chock district office, Soi Phetkasem 81 in Nong Khaem district, Suan Siam Intersection in Khan Na Yao district, Big C department store in Bang Na district, and Bank of Ayudhaya Head Office in Yannawa district.

 

Air quality can be checked daily on the AirBKK application, www.airbkk.com, or at iqair.com. It is essential to stay updated on air quality and take necessary precautions to protect oneself from harmful pollutants.

 

In addition to industrial activities, agricultural fires have been identified as a leading cause of haze pollution in Thailand. According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), satellite images showed 6,701 hotspots in Myanmar, 2,583 in Thailand, 2,125 in Cambodia, 1,434 in Laos, 147 in Vietnam, and two in Malaysia on Saturday alone.

 

The screen shot of the live satellite representation indicates that most of the fires are happening in border areas outside of Thailand, especially in northern Cambodia, Myanmar’s north west and Laos.

 

Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution can have severe health impacts and may cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is essential to take preventive measures and reduce exposure to such pollutants.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/bangkoks-air-pollution-causing-grave-concern-in-parts-of-the-city/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-03-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[Shop mak]

[stoner]

16 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Any level above 50mcg is considered unsafe as long-term exposure is linked to chronic diseases, including lung and heart problems.

and the scary part ??????? 50 is the *thai* standard. the rest of the world looks to 25 and above as unsafe.

 

so go from there. 

 

total disgust for this entire region and the people who make this happen. you are vile repugnant filth. 

[Celsius]

^ Actually it is closer to 200

[Lion21]

The BMA adjusts the measurements down and presents figures that are lower than reality.  The air pollution is much higher than what they state.  But, yes, wear a mask.  Non-residents and tourists should be informed of this before traveling to Thailand.

[JensenZ]

47 minutes ago, stoner said:

and the scary part ??????? 50 is the *thai* standard. the rest of the world looks to 25 and above as unsafe.

 

so go from there. 

 

total disgust for this entire region and the people who make this happen. you are vile repugnant filth. 

I suppose you missed the part where most of the smaze has been created by neighboring countries' agricultural burning. We're in drought conditions with little wind. It will pass. Just put a mask on and relax.

[Lee65]

 

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

I suppose you missed the part where most of the smaze has been created by neighboring countries' agricultural burning. We're in drought conditions with little wind. It will pass. Just put a mask on and relax.

It will not pass for the 30 thousand people who die annually from the effects of Thailand's air pollution.

[engamann]

Just look at the big companys that profitt from the sugarcane industri then you will know why the dum dum Prayuth not gonna do anything too stop the burning , but hey him shut down the country for the covid flu what a dum dum.

[Celsius]

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

I suppose you missed the part where most of the smaze has been created by neighboring countries' agricultural burning. We're in drought conditions with little wind. It will pass. Just put a mask on and relax.

 

Poster of the year

[n00dle]

2 hours ago, Shop mak said:

thank you captain obvious.

[tomazbodner]

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

I suppose you missed the part where most of the smaze has been created by neighboring countries' agricultural burning. We're in drought conditions with little wind. It will pass. Just put a mask on and relax.

I'm waiting since October last year!

[TantrikLvr]

 A vital and very critical reason not to ignore and to deal with this fast, as Dementia is clearly rising quickly, as a direct result of short of long exposure to poisonous air!

 

https://scitechdaily.com/improving-air-quality-may-improve-cognitive-function-and-reduce-dementia-risk/

 

 

[stoner]

12 hours ago, JensenZ said:

I suppose you missed the part where most of the smaze has been created by neighboring countries' agricultural burning. We're in drought conditions with little wind. It will pass. Just put a mask on and relax.

i suppose you missed the part where i mentioned the entire region in my comment. 

 

as another poster commented. maybe tell the 30k dead every year to relax. 

 

 

[RandolphGB]

14 hours ago, Lion21 said:

The BMA adjusts the measurements down and presents figures that are lower than reality.  The air pollution is much higher than what they state.  But, yes, wear a mask.  Non-residents and tourists should be informed of this before traveling to Thailand.

This is not true for the AirVisual app, which takes measurements from independent devices not connected to the government. 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Air pollution has become a major concern in Thailand as the haze pollution has exceeded safe levels in 36 provinces, mainly in the North. Bangkok and surrounding provinces are also currently blanketed in smog, which is expected to continue for two more days.

A concern... to who?

Not the government.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, stoner said:

and the scary part ??????? 50 is the *thai* standard. the rest of the world looks to 25 and above as unsafe.

 

so go from there. 

 

total disgust for this entire region and the people who make this happen. you are vile repugnant filth. 

Well said.

[Denim]

Meanwhile , Bangkok United F.C have just unveiled their new kit for this season. They hope it will give them an edge.

 

[spidermike007]

According to Plume, some areas of the city are near 200 today. That is very dangerous. The hospitals are likely brimming with people who are suffering from respiratory ailments. 

 

And what are the same authorities who are asking to be re-elected, doing about this horrendous issue? Absolutely nothing. Are sugar cane farmers who are burning being heavily fined? No. Are diesel vehicles which are badly maintained and spewing out soot being taken off the road? No. 

 

These creeps need to be penalized, dogged, scapegoated, humiliated, scorned, and sent out to pasture. They care not one iota about the well being of the masses. And the cane farmers care not one iota about anything other than me, me, me, me. 

 

 

 

[Tarteso]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Most of the fires are happening in border areas outside of Thailand,

???? Thais Don’t set fires just

a nit noi.

 

points of fires 2 days ago

[al valio]

What are Malaysia and Vietnam doing differently?

 

Since their hotspot numbers are so low (and it's satellite data, so probably reliable), and the two countries are different in economic development status and political systems....

 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

8 minutes ago, al valio said:

What are Malaysia and Vietnam doing differently?

 

Since their hotspot numbers are so low (and it's satellite data, so probably reliable), and the two countries are different in economic development status and political systems....

 

 

Isn't it to do with the wind direction?  Bad as Thailand is, it's still not normally as bad as parts of China / India.

[MrJ2U]

Terrible up here in North East Thailand.    Sakon Nakhon. 

[MrJ2U]

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Isn't it to do with the wind direction?  Bad as Thailand is, it's still not normally as bad as parts of China / India.

It's an entire continent problem.    Thailand could stop all the burning, exhaust, etc and 2.5 and other pollutants would still blow in from adjacent countries. 

 

https://www.careourearth.com/persistent-air-pollution-in-asia/

 

[al valio]

46 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Isn't it to do with the wind direction?  Bad as Thailand is, it's still not normally as bad as parts of China / India.

I understand that pollution travels across borders, but not hotspots?  

 

And Malaysia and Vietnam are in totally opposite wind directions. One is south of Thailand, the other is north and east...

[JAS21]

We live not far from junction of Chaengwattana and Prachachuen Road. A guy in the village has a ‘station’  Air Visual App.. right now AQI is 171 and 2.5 is 93.8. Air purifiers are running flat out in our house

 

[Tom Vanderlay]

Still blaming it on Laos and Cambodia I see.  And "industrial" pollutants.  Burning sugar cane plantations is and always has been the primary source of PM 2.5.

Huge sugar corporations have transformed this country (and region) into a huge blaze, and we are trying to live in the middle of it.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

19 hours ago, Lion21 said:

But, yes, wear a mask.  Non-residents and tourists should be informed of this before traveling to Thailand.

 

It's pretty sad...

 

If folks aren't going to wear N95 masks to help protect themselves from COVID, they certainly should want to be wearing them to protect themselves from THIS kind of unhealthy air in Bangkok and elsewhere!

 

But among the tourist folks I see around BKK lately, very few are.

 

 

http://aqicn.org/station/thailand/gaia-12/bangkok/#/z/11

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Any level above 50mcg is considered unsafe as long-term exposure is linked to chronic diseases, including lung and heart problems.

It's unfortunate the OP article didn't make any mention of the following:

 

"Thailand will adjust the country’s standard safety level of air pollution from an average of 50 microns to 37.5 microns from June 1st, with the hope that this will help the Pollution Control Department manage air pollution with increased efficiency, according to PCD Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi."

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1285347-thailand-to-reduce-the-50-micron-of-pm25-safety-standard-to-375-microns/

 

Or, as others have mentioned above, that the unhealthy air pollution threshold standards for the WHO, U.S. and elsewhere in the world tend to be in the 25-35 micrograms range -- and not the 50 microgram level currently used by Thailand.

 

Not that the coming lower threshold limit is going to make much difference for Thailand, regardless...

 

Since the authorities here, in reality, do little to nothing to combat the actual causes (the largest one being agricultural burning) of the season air pollution blight here.

 

 

 

[Sweet Swede]

Being inside the house is not a safe haven against the air pollution, it is only marginally lower than outside, even if you have a fairly good sealed house. When reading these articles they give the impression that being inside in a closed space is safe, which it is not, but it can be if you add an Air purifier, I have AP in 3 different rooms.