Bangkok and its surrounding regions are grappling with crippling air pollution, as smog levels hit hazardous peaks. The Pollution Control Department announced that PM2.5, dangerous particulate matter, surpassed safe levels of 35 microgrammes per cubic metre in numerous spots across the city and nearby provinces, putting millions at risk.

 

Come 11am today, October 8, Bangkok's air quality readings varied widely, alarmingly so, from 37 to a high of 48.8µg/m3, with Sathorn district bearing the worst. Neighbouring localities such as Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon experienced similar bleak conditions.

Samut Sakhon's Krathumbaen and Mueang districts reported 38.3 to 53.4µg/m3, while Nonthaburi saw figures climbing to 45.9µg/m3 in Pak Kret. Mueang district in Nakhon Pathom wasn’t far behind at 46.1µg/m3. Disturbingly, Kanchanaburi's Mueang district reached a staggering 58.8µg/m3.

 

Thailand's Meteorological Department predicts the pollutant haze will persist until October 16, exacerbating the situation. Officials are advising citizens, especially individuals with respiratory issues, to minimise outdoor exposure due to risks like asthma and heart disease aggravation. Residents in affected areas are urged to follow health advisories strictly as the city braces for a prolonged spell of unhealthy air quality.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-10-08

 

Looks like it's home grown smog as well 🙁

 

Quote : Somsak remains steadfast in promoting healthier lifestyles among teenagers, aiming to reduce e-cigarette use. "We are committed to creating a healthier environment for our youth," he affirmed, underlining the ministry’s dedication to reversing this troubling trend.

 

Methinks they need to address smog first

And this problem continues year after year after year, as nobody wants to address it. These unbelievably inept administrations yak and yak and yak, but they don't seem to want to do anything. Once the burning starts it's going to get worse, and yet nothing ever gets done. Another month from now when the rain stops we're going to have to deal with this for 5 or 6 months. It is the same thing every year, people dying left and right from respiratory disease and the government does nothing. They are unwilling to take on Big Agra and their buddies who own the sugar refineries, nor the sugar farmers. And the farmers continue to act as if the health of the community means less than zero. 

 

How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city-

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

 

At least one NGO is calling it what it is. Field burning, not forest fires is the main cause of bad air here.

 

And Bangkok is not far behind, once the rains stop. 

 

There are alternatives, but it would require vision and investment. The government should offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2024. Rice and sugar worked in previous centuries. Now, they do not make any sense. Too labor intensive, too much degradation of the land, water, air, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

Progressive reform on burning - green harvesting

https://youtu.be/thXstqQcdQ4?si=yExPfXaED66a4vyP

18 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

And this problem continues year after year after year, as nobody wants to address it. These unbelievably inept administrations yak and yak and yak, but they don't seem to want to do anything. Once the burning starts it's going to get worse, and yet nothing ever gets done. Another month from now when the rain stops we're going to have to deal with this for 5 or 6 months. It is the same thing every year, people dying left and right from respiratory disease and the government does nothing. They are unwilling to take on Big Agra and their buddies who own the sugar refineries, nor the sugar farmers. And the farmers continue to act as if the health of the community means less than zero. 

 

How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city-

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

 

At least one NGO is calling it what it is. Field burning, not forest fires is the main cause of bad air here.

 

And Bangkok is not far behind, once the rains stop. 

 

There are alternatives, but it would require vision and investment. The government should offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2024. Rice and sugar worked in previous centuries. Now, they do not make any sense. Too labor intensive, too much degradation of the land, water, air, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

Progressive reform on burning - green harvesting

https://youtu.be/thXstqQcdQ4?si=yExPfXaED66a4vyP

Yep spot on  but whats going to happen Nothing !!!!!  same as the floods each year the same Nothing gets done the politician say the same thing vote for me and i will fix this  Thailand is a truly backward country 

43 minutes ago, Rimmer said:

Looks like it's home grown smog as well 🙁

 

We have wonderful air up around Chiang Mai, Lamphun & surrounding provinces.  Maybe if this afflicts Bangkok, maybe then the politicians will actually do something.  Although, 35 is not bad, was in Xi'an when the ppm hit nearly 400 which was very very bad.

Looks worse than 50 aqi.   Perfect October fall weather here.   74 avg but it's been near-90f blue skies no wind. Don't need air on with the windows open at night.   So depressing being in air like that.   And we won't really know the realization of how deadly it is on a population for another 20 years.  Not sure thai massages are worth it. 

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Yep spot on  but whats going to happen Nothing !!!!!  same as the floods each year the same Nothing gets done the politician say the same thing vote for me and i will fix this  Thailand is a truly backward country 

Yes, for the people who argue otherwise it is very much a third world nation. You could say that some of the bigger cities like Bangkok and Hua Hin are somewhat modern, but the majority of the country is backwards, and relatively funky. Nothing wrong with that, I rather like it like that, but it's definitely not a forward-looking nation. 

Wonder what it would be without the rains.

I only visit thailand during the rainy season because i like seeing the sky. If it were a couple decades ago id be living there year round

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And this problem continues year after year after year, as nobody wants to address it. These unbelievably inept administrations yak and yak and yak, but they don't seem to want to do anything. Once the burning starts it's going to get worse, and yet nothing ever gets done. Another month from now when the rain stops we're going to have to deal with this for 5 or 6 months. It is the same thing every year, people dying left and right from respiratory disease and the government does nothing. They are unwilling to take on Big Agra and their buddies who own the sugar refineries, nor the sugar farmers. And the farmers continue to act as if the health of the community means less than zero. 

 

How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city-

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

 

At least one NGO is calling it what it is. Field burning, not forest fires is the main cause of bad air here.

 

And Bangkok is not far behind, once the rains stop. 

 

There are alternatives, but it would require vision and investment. The government should offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2024. Rice and sugar worked in previous centuries. Now, they do not make any sense. Too labor intensive, too much degradation of the land, water, air, and resources. Let's get with the times. Let us move forward. 

 

Progressive reform on burning - green harvesting

https://youtu.be/thXstqQcdQ4?si=yExPfXaED66a4vyP

What crops are they burning now? It's too wet to burn

My guess would be traffic and industrial pollution.

Great for chinese tourism, they will feel right at home

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Pollution Control Department announced

That's a joke in itself.

“Yeah but we’re busy with other projects at the moment. Casinos and F1 to name a few”,

Not easy to make a quick buck tackling pollution hence doesn’t figure on priority list. 

10 hours ago, MarkBR said:

We have wonderful air up around Chiang Mai, Lamphun & surrounding provinces.  Maybe if this afflicts Bangkok, maybe then the politicians will actually do something.  Although, 35 is not bad, was in Xi'an when the ppm hit nearly 400 which was very very bad.

Gets that high in Chiang Mai occasionally.

37 to  48 I consider a fairly clean air day, given what usually shows up on https://www.iqair.com/

Not at all unusual to have readings around and above 150

12 hours ago, MarkBR said:

We have wonderful air up around Chiang Mai, Lamphun & surrounding provinces.  Maybe if this afflicts Bangkok, maybe then the politicians will actually do something.  Although, 35 is not bad, was in Xi'an when the ppm hit nearly 400 which was very very bad.

CHIANG MAI ??? How long have you been here. Just give it a week until the floods have dried out and the mud is dust for a first taste, then wait for December and the succeeding months.................enjoy AQI up to 600 ......................does wonders for one's COPD or bronchitis.

2 minutes ago, Marco51 said:

CHIANG MAI ??? How long have you been here. Just give it a week until the floods have dried out and the mud is dust for a first taste, then wait for December and the succeeding months.................enjoy AQI up to 600 ......................does wonders for one's COPD or bronchitis.

Will be getting an air purifier for this seaon's fire burning.  I agree it is horrific.  Just pointing out 35 is not bad, comparatively.

If only the govt. fought smog as much as they fight E-Cigs

3 hours ago, kwilco said:

What crops are they burning now? It's too wet to burn

My guess would be traffic and industrial pollution.

Yes, I thought the CM and then BKK problem was basically Jan-to-March. Haven't the rains & floods everywhere (except here in south Surin) achieved anything?

Wonder where that smog comes from though

The deluges from the sky are being replaced by Thai-made smog - same procedure as every year again. How stupid of a nation to poison its own people ........ 

This is bullsh#t. I live in Sathorn with a view like on the photo and its as clear as a crystal here. Hasn't been anything like they say despite what Ventusky shows. Airvisual also shows its been clear almost everywhere in bkk. 

 

 

21 minutes ago, rumeaug said:

Wonder where that smog comes from though

i mean. It is rainy season. Burning hasn't started yet. Rain poors almost every day. Just wondering where that peak stems from.

Time to get the air purifiers out of the closet and back up and working. 

We had a red morning in Pattaya (over 150) and I could see it "clear" as day.

Looks like an early start to this year's proceedings.  And it has nothing to do 

with burning season.  Annual transition months where the monsoon winds from the 

south are dying, being replaced by dirty air from China.

I love to visit Bangkok but after three days I’ve had enough and get back to island life 

 

That photo is not from today though, it's fairly clear here, or at least visibility is normal.

As soon as the rain stops the fires start, Thai's can't help themselves.  It is something in their DNA........................MUST BURN!

@black tabby12345 I told you twice yesterday not to post in bold or oversize text, either follow forum rules or face a time out.

3 hours ago, Card said:

This is bullsh#t. I live in Sathorn with a view like on the photo and its as clear as a crystal here. Hasn't been anything like they say despite what Ventusky shows. Airvisual also shows its been clear almost everywhere in bkk. 

 

 

 

You realize you can't see PM 2.5 right?  Larger PM 10+ will cause the views the picture shows, and is far less deadly because it is generally trapped in the lungs and later coughed up.  PM 2.5 is trapped and absorbed into the body.  It can be crystal clear and you are still being poisoned if PM 2.5 concentration is higher than 20.   It states in the article the picture is a file photo for reference only.