Minister launches emergency plan as deadly dust chokes Thailand

[Thailand]

It is literally now called the "Burning Season" and is expected that government will fail to do anything to address the problem.

People expect to get sick from the smog, hospitals make provision for the influx, and long term effects on the young will take time to come through but likely to be disastrous.

Committees will be formed-again, people will die from the cumulative effects of the smog.

The rain will come and all will be forgotten for another year.

 

[mdr224]

I only go there during the rainy season now anyways. Thanks thailand for not respecting the planet or your own country

[JimHuaHin]

9 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Correct It is locally

There is a lot of factors it is just not the burning that is causing the polution

 

Air pollution in Thailand is caused by a combination of

Vehicular emissions

Exhaust fumes from cars and other vehicles are a major source of air pollution in Thailand.

In Bangkok, vehicular emissions are the main source of PM10, a type of air pollutant.

Industrial emissions

Industrial processes release chemical fumes, vapors, and other pollutants into the air.

Industrial zones, such as the Map Tha Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong, are hotspots for pollution.

Agricultural burning

The burning of agricultural waste, such as sugarcane and corn, is a major source of air pollution in Thailand.

Forest fires and transboundary haze from neighboring countries, such as Myanmar and Laos, also contribute to air pollution.

Good summary.

 

Rules and regulations are in place - but rarely enforced.

 

The rich and powerful "buy" immunity from the laws and regulations.

 

Until Thais actually change their thinking and behaviour, there will be no change.

 

It is that simple.

[mikebell]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 can cause severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer-related illnesses.

'Prolonged' like every year for the past twenty that I have read this story.

[soalbundy]

13 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Good, good... but where's the part of lowering the pollution levels by tackling its sources?

That's where the 'cunning plan' comes to the fore.

[rwill]

Here in Ratchaburi it has been pretty smoky.  Sugar cane season.  The fields are a burning.

 

My air purifier was showing red/yellow for quite a while yesterday.

[petedk]

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They literally have public busses running on the streets blowing out black smoke.

 

Why not ban them for a start ?

 

The vehicle emissions is disgusting in Bangkok. Make sure vehicles comply with regulations on emissions - and actively pursue those who break the rules. 

 

Almost every night there are 5  or more cars parked around our house. The drivers sit in them for 3 or 4 hours with the motors idling while their bosses go to have dinner meetings. 

Some stay longer with the record being 16 hours. 8 pm to 12 midday.

 

That's just in our part of the soi. If this happens all over Thailand then that's a lot of unnecessary pollution.

[NorthernRyland]

12 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

One other area that seems to be ignored is roadside clearance.......as an example........from Nong Bua Daeng to Chaiyaphum

(one hour drive) 20m to 30m from the roadside, both sides is burned every year......that must be done by the authorities.

 

Indeed the road crews literally burn the grass on the side of the street because it's faster than cutting it. Smoke is a joke to those guys. They're already living in total squaller and generally pathetic conditions so polluted air doesn't really register.

[spidermike007]

Dust free rooms. Anything to avoid a confrontation with the wealthy sugar refiners. If they created a policy where sugar could not be bought, if it was burned, half of the problem would be solved. 

 

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. 

 

The government should offer incentives, for the farmers to switch crops. This is 2025. 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

 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

I don't see how anyone can live there. Especially older retiree's.

 

What?

 

You must be joking.

 

This, here, is a great place for retirees.

 

When you become a retiree, you may very well sing a different tune.

 

Wait and SEE what you seem unable to see at this moment in your life.

 

 

[NatureFilm]

In the “dark side” area, burning grass and garbage in the same places every day, you can see the clouds of smoke every day without the authorities doing anything. The same with noise pollution, also caused by the “dark side” administration itself, almost every day the illegal public loudspeakers and the election advertisement pickups terrorize the public with devastating volume 

[1happykamper]

In all other countries arson is a big deal crime. In Thailand... "carry on"! 

 

Here in chiang mai these mushroom growers burn undergrowth to produce a better crop. Farmers burn fields. Both are illegal... But no one is arrested. 

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The burning has to stop.

 

The burning will go on.

 

Suck it up.

 

[Tarteso]

Minister launches emergency plan as deadly dust chokes Thailand.

 

Better change Minister.

[J Branche]

Recap,

 

AG crop burning seems to be an issue.

Government expects farmers to figure it out after how many years of failing to reduce pollution. 

Farmers have little money or incentive to change farming practices. 

They have not been trained, may not be able to afford equipment without a loan or subsidy.

Top Government can afford air filters and clean air controls in their home and office.  

Villages and Farm areas have little if any ability to respond and/or stop the burning. (Fire fighting equipment probably would be damaged, lives at risk going in fields, equipment stuck or broken in fields, no budget or incentive for fire department)

 

Thailand has to wait for years for Foreign Tax scheme to support funding some projects.

 

Politicians rely on voter support, increase costs, inflation, impact global trade and voters will look for new Politician.

[newnative]

      I think if they could just stop the burning it would help quite a lot--everywhere.  I'm on the Darkside of Pattaya and lately we have smelled burning almost every evening--and we sometimes see it during the day.  Our new car monitors the PM2.5 levels both outside and inside the car.  The other day we could see burning in the distance and as we were driving around the outside PM2.5 levels jumped to around 130 or more at some points--and we weren't really that close to the fire.  As we got farther away from the burning area the level dropped to the 50s.   

      The burning is not just agriculture related.  There is a huge amount of construction going on and every evening many of the projects burn the construction debris.  I observed this first hand with the new project that I live in.  The daily evening fires were not big but multiplied by other fires and it all contributes to the bad air.

      

[10baht]

14 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Good, good... but where's the part of lowering the pollution levels by tackling its sources?

Where are the burning bands? 

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

What is your plan? 

Every village which burns off vegetation and crop stubble has a poo yai, or headman.

 

Gather as many villagers as possible in a public place, and give the poo yai a flogging, explaining the reason.

 

The poo yai will pass down the flogging he got to any villager who burns off from then on.

[Yagoda]

13 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

One other area that seems to be ignored is roadside clearance.......as an example........from Nong Bua Daeng to Chaiyaphum

(one hour drive) 20m to 30m from the roadside, both sides is burned every year......that must be done by the authorities.

I just saw that from Aranyaphrathet to about Chachaengsao. Ridiculous

[CapeCod]

Where is the tourist authority? Why aren't they defending their patch? That's three months revenue lost every year in certain parts like chiang mai, which depends on tourism

[The Old Bull]

Burning sugar isn't a a problem. The fire rips through the sugar real quick and is out by the time you get on your motorcycle to go see the fire. I have never detected any change in air quality , only problem being black embers falling on any washing you have hung up drying.

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, CapeCod said:

Where is the tourist authority? Why aren't they defending their patch? That's three months revenue lost every year in certain parts like chiang mai, which depends on tourism

Well I was coming in this weekend but passed because of the air.

[BoganInParasite]

Is this guys nick name Canute by any chance?

[RandolphGB]

Nobody will admit the real cause - a selfish, ignorant, lazy, vain, low IQ people, who are more concerned with money than their own health and the health of others.

 

The government does not want to fix the air pollution, the farmers, small scale land owners, the every-day residents burning their home and garden waste, the street food vendors belching out clouds of smoke from barbecues, do not care to fix it. None of them want to fix it because fixing it would seriously harm their own pocket. Most of all, it would take effort, evolution and change. 

 

Further, the government would have to decimate the agricultural industry and spend vast sums putting in waste collection systems across the country. They'd have to pass laws and enforce laws. That costs a lot. It's a lot of effort.

 

It's not ever going to happen. Thais are as corrupt as they come - they see money, they keep for themselves. They don't think 'let's improve the country'.

 

It's impossible to teach a pig to read. You will never civilize and develop this country.

[Highball]

14 hours ago, KannikaP said:

My home is 350km north of Bkk, so must I just put up with it?

Or a car from up t'North belching black smoke must get it fixed 200km before Bkk?

Silly idea. Stop the pollutants in ALL of Thailand.

However, in my village there is no waste collection so what can we do with it?

I'm not in disagreement with your comment. The worst of it hovers over BKK. A halt to crop burning would help the entire nation. I was merely thinking of what can immediately be accomplished, impact the most. The further outside of Bangkok the less the government has control.

[Marco51]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of NIDA

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Thailand Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin issued an urgent response to soaring PM 2.5 air pollution levels, which have breached safety thresholds in 14 provinces, threatening public health.

 

Chairing an emergency meeting yesterday, January 9, Somsak revealed a series of measures to combat the crisis, which has affected 53 provinces since October last year and is expected to persist until January 15.

 

“Prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 can cause severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer-related illnesses. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions, face the highest risks.”

 

To protect affected communities, the ministry has established 4,700 dust-free rooms across 56 provinces, including public health facilities, schools, offices, and restaurants. Additionally, 1,338 anti-dust nets have been distributed to bedridden patients and homebound individuals. Face masks and dust nets will be provided to at-risk groups, including outdoor workers and volunteers.

 

 

A multi-faceted approach has been rolled out:

 

• Health screenings: Teams are conducting proactive screenings for respiratory, cardiovascular, and skin conditions in high-risk areas.
• Awareness campaigns: Digital tools and media are being used to alert the public, particularly high-risk groups like children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
• Work-from-home policies: Vulnerable groups are urged to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors during peak pollution hours.
• Medical support: Emergency health teams are being deployed to assist hard-hit communities.

 

The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been upgraded to coordinate a swift response. Residents are urged to monitor PM 2.5 levels, wear protective masks, and seek medical help for symptoms like persistent coughing or chest pain, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-10

 

 

......" take 2 aspirins, have a lie down , if it doesn't go away do come back.................. for more aspirins........."

[wombat]

15 hours ago, BarBoy said:

......what the hell have I just read?????

pshyco babble ?

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, The Old Bull said:

Burning sugar isn't a a problem. The fire rips through the sugar real quick and is out by the time you get on your motorcycle to go see the fire. I have never detected any change in air quality , only problem being black embers falling on any washing you have hung up drying.

It's not just sugar cane, it's crop stubble and vegetation.

 

Every year, villagers start fires in the forests, to stimulate the growth of edible fungi in the rainy season.

[Moonfire]

4 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Live in thailand, get respiratory disease. Thats just the way it is

Is that considered an STD, asking for a friend? 

[catch104]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of NIDA

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Thailand Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin issued an urgent response to soaring PM 2.5 air pollution levels, which have breached safety thresholds in 14 provinces, threatening public health.

 

Chairing an emergency meeting yesterday, January 9, Somsak revealed a series of measures to combat the crisis, which has affected 53 provinces since October last year and is expected to persist until January 15.

 

“Prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 can cause severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer-related illnesses. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions, face the highest risks.”

 

To protect affected communities, the ministry has established 4,700 dust-free rooms across 56 provinces, including public health facilities, schools, offices, and restaurants. Additionally, 1,338 anti-dust nets have been distributed to bedridden patients and homebound individuals. Face masks and dust nets will be provided to at-risk groups, including outdoor workers and volunteers.

 

 

 

A multi-faceted approach has been rolled out:

 

• Health screenings: Teams are conducting proactive screenings for respiratory, cardiovascular, and skin conditions in high-risk areas.
• Awareness campaigns: Digital tools and media are being used to alert the public, particularly high-risk groups like children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
• Work-from-home policies: Vulnerable groups are urged to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors during peak pollution hours.
• Medical support: Emergency health teams are being deployed to assist hard-hit communities.

 

The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been upgraded to coordinate a swift response. Residents are urged to monitor PM 2.5 levels, wear protective masks, and seek medical help for symptoms like persistent coughing or chest pain, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-10

 

 

That cannot possibly be all??? where's the main part of the 20 pages short term and long term plan??