Toxic air crisis: 70 provinces choked by dangerous dust levels

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze.

 

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut Sakhon recorded the worst air pollution, with a staggering 144.8 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air – nearly four times the government-set safe threshold of 37.5µg/m³.

 

Bangkok wasn’t far behind, with a PM2.5 reading of 125.1µg/m³, followed by dangerously high levels in nearby provinces: Nakhon Pathom (119.3), Nonthaburi (116.3), and Samut Prakan (115.3). Other areas in the danger zone included Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, and Sing Buri, all exceeding 100µg/m³.

 

“Prolonged exposure to such pollution can pose severe health risks.”

 

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor activities and to wear masks.

 

 

Meanwhile, 43 provinces experienced orange-level air quality, classified as harmful to sensitive groups, with readings between 37.7 and 75µg/m³. These included Lopburi, Chon Buri, and Rayong.

 

In contrast, only seven provinces reported air deemed safe. Coastal provinces Phang Nga, Surat Thani, and Chumphon recorded moderate air quality, while Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son enjoyed good air conditions, with PM2.5 levels as low as 12.4µg/m³ in Mae Hong Son, reported Bangkok Post.

 

With the smog showing no signs of abating, government officials are under mounting pressure to implement measures to curb pollution and protect public health. For now, much of Thailand remains under a choking cloud of toxic air.

 

Agricultural burning, particularly during the dry season, contributes significantly to haze and particulate matter. Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and construction add to pollution in cities like Bangkok. Government efforts include monitoring air quality, promoting cleaner fuels, and discouraging agricultural burning. However, critics argue that enforcement and proactive policies remain insufficient to tackle the root causes.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-21

 

 

[dinsdale]

According to aqicn.com last update (17:00) where I am it's 238. My lungs are feeling it.

Edit. 18:00 update.

[Tarteso]

Bla, bla..Liars..

Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son enjoyed good air conditions

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze.

Thaksin is at fault, all that hot air he's spurting out around the country, instead of tackling the real issues affecting the population.

Maybe he should pay each person 200 baht not to moan about it.

[Captor]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze.

 

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut Sakhon recorded the worst air pollution, with a staggering 144.8 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air – nearly four times the government-set safe threshold of 37.5µg/m³.

 

Bangkok wasn’t far behind, with a PM2.5 reading of 125.1µg/m³, followed by dangerously high levels in nearby provinces: Nakhon Pathom (119.3), Nonthaburi (116.3), and Samut Prakan (115.3). Other areas in the danger zone included Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, and Sing Buri, all exceeding 100µg/m³.

 

“Prolonged exposure to such pollution can pose severe health risks.”

 

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor activities and to wear masks.

 

 

Meanwhile, 43 provinces experienced orange-level air quality, classified as harmful to sensitive groups, with readings between 37.7 and 75µg/m³. These included Lopburi, Chon Buri, and Rayong.

 

In contrast, only seven provinces reported air deemed safe. Coastal provinces Phang Nga, Surat Thani, and Chumphon recorded moderate air quality, while Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son enjoyed good air conditions, with PM2.5 levels as low as 12.4µg/m³ in Mae Hong Son, reported Bangkok Post.

 

With the smog showing no signs of abating, government officials are under mounting pressure to implement measures to curb pollution and protect public health. For now, much of Thailand remains under a choking cloud of toxic air.

 

Agricultural burning, particularly during the dry season, contributes significantly to haze and particulate matter. Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and construction add to pollution in cities like Bangkok. Government efforts include monitoring air quality, promoting cleaner fuels, and discouraging agricultural burning. However, critics argue that enforcement and proactive policies remain insufficient to tackle the root causes.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-21

 

 

Same every year. No news here..

[thesetat]

15 minutes ago, Captor said:

Same every year. No news here..

This year seems a little worse than previously..

The worst part of the problem is that the Gov makes measures to lower it but they never get implemented. As I passed around Bkk last week there was heavy black smoke from one area and heavy white smoke from another area from deliberate burning that only added to the pollution locally. Yet, as i passed those I never saw one policing agency or fire department or government vehicle there. 

 

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Bla, bla..Liars..

Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son enjoyed good air conditions

If your going to post comments like this you should support it with a pm 2.5 map. Something like this which shows your post to be complete nonsense.

https://aqicn.org/station/thailand-phaya-mengrai-รพ.พญาเม็งราย-ต.แม่เปา-อ.พญาเม็งราย-จ.เชียงราย/#/z/9

[lordgrinz]

My eyes are seriously burning today, even though the AQI numbers (164) in my area (Nonthaburi) are slightly less than the last two days (Monday-177, Tuesday-174). It's the same feeling I get when people are smoking near me, my eyes start burning and stinging. The sky out there looks horrendous right now though, today is going to be bad one.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

Same old same old. Who cares anymore?

 

Burn it all to the ground.

 

Idiots!

[KireB]

Let's welcome more tourists. Maybe TAT can promote Thailand as a welness destination for the super wealthy. Look at those numbers in pristine Kanchanaburi. I advise my family to skip Yhailand at the moment.

[Tropicalevo]

[Justanotherone]

maybe thailand should make the air quality readers ILLEGAL ?

[Peterphuket]

For the record, it is mentioned here that 'dust' naturally gives dust in the lungs, 'dust lungs' is not good either, but that is different from what I understand air pollution to be.
This has been on my mind for a long time, because after moving from Phuket to the Thayang area of Phetchaburi province, I have been wondering for a long time 'what air pollution', as there is no polluting industry at all in my area, and road traffic is also nil.
But when I look around, the air is indeed cloudy, and now I realise it is dust.

[Tarteso]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

If your going to post comments like this you should support it with a pm 2.5 map. Something like this which shows your post to be complete nonsense.

https://aqicn.org/station/thailand-phaya-mengrai-รพ.พญาเม็งราย-ต.แม่เปา-อ.พญาเม็งราย-จ.เชียงราย/#/z/9

There are many ways to show the grade of pollution without giving numbers, a 2nd grade would understand this without a murmur.  I post when and what I feel like posting. My graph indicates the very dangerous level of air pollution...IN REAL TIME. In fact, the app I've been using for over 10 years gives the indicators. You just need a little more imagination to see what the country is like today.. Mr. Nonsense.

[spidermike007]

The public urges government assistance in tackling air pollution. If you goons were not bought and paid for by big agra, the burning would stop. It is your compromised nature and your unwillingness to put up a good fight, that is the major cause of the air apocalypse we are facing.

 

People are dying and suffering in hospitals on your watch, and their blood is on your hands. You are cowards. You are incompetents. You deserve to be voted out with a vengeance. 

 

Oh, I forgot, you were. 

[dinsdale]

26 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

There are many ways to show the grade of pollution without giving numbers, a 2nd grade would you understand this without a murmur. My graph indicates the very dangerous level of air pollution...IN REAL TIME. In fact, the app I've been using for over 10 years gives the indicators. . . Mr. Nonsense.

Then why say that the air is fine when it's clearly not.  As for seeing the actual numbers received from air pollution sensing stations compared to a map that only uses colours I think even a "2^nd grade" student could tell you which shows more information.

Compare the two below PM 2.5 maps and can you honestly say the one you use is better? Note: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map.

Wed 22/01/2025

https://aqicn.org/map/thailand/chiang-mai-university-mae-hia/

 

[Tarteso]

29 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Then why say that the air is fine when it's clearly not.  As for seeing the actual numbers received from air pollution sensing stations compared to a map that only uses colours I think even a "2^nd grade" student could tell you which shows more information.

Compare the two below PM 2.5 maps and can you honestly say the one you use is better? Note: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map.

Wed 22/01/2025

https://aqicn.org/map/thailand/chiang-mai-university-mae-hia/

 

Yes, Mr. Picky 🙏

[Burma Bill]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze.

 

For reference (7 days ago) - a contributing factor??

 

JAKARTA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A volcano located in Indonesia's eastern island of Halmahera erupted on Wednesday morning spewing a four-km (2.5-mile) high ash cloud, forcing authorities to raise the alert level in surrounding areas to the highest, officials said.

Mount Ibu erupted at 07:11 a.m. (2211 GMT Tuesday) for around two minutes, the country's volcanology agency said in a statement. Clouds of thick grey ash billowed into the sky leaning towards the west, said Muhammad Wahid, the agency's head.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-mount-ibu-erupts-spewing-big-ash-cloud-2025-01-15/