Picture courtesy of Thai Health

 

Northern and northeastern Thailand are grappling with a significant air pollution crisis, as hazardous PM2.5 levels have surpassed safety standards in 42 provinces. With deteriorating air quality expected to worsen from 18th to 24th February, especially in the north, concerns are mounting.

 

The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre has reported that key provinces, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Ratchasima, are currently facing PM2.5 levels that pose a serious risk to public health. In the north, levels are recorded between 27.7 to 93.6 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the safety threshold. The northeast follows this trend, ranging from 21.6 to 60.4 microgrammes per cubic metre.

 

In central and western regions, six areas report figures from 17.0 to 72.6 microgrammes per cubic metre, with the eastern region experiencing similar issues but to a lesser degree. The southern provinces remain less affected, still within acceptable air quality limits.

 

 

Bangkok and its outskirts are particularly affected, with PM2.5 levels recorded in 20 areas reaching up to 45.0 microgrammes per cubic metre. Authorities are urging residents to monitor their health closely and limit outdoor activities.

 

In response, health advisories recommend wearing protective masks or staying indoors, particularly for those with pre-existing health issues. Forecasts suggest possible improvements in Bangkok's air quality from 19th to 22nd February; however, northern regions may see heightened levels from 18th to 21st February. The northeast might experience relief by 24th February, while the east is likely to improve earlier, between 19th and 22nd February. The south is predicted to maintain good air quality.

 

As this pollution crisis unfolds, the focus remains on closely monitoring air quality levels and ensuring public health safety through appropriate preventative measures and timely government interventions, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

 

The smog is finally clearing up here on Samui. 

One of the reasons that I moved here many years ago.

20 AQI at the moment rising to about 50 AQI by midnight.

Why is this in the "News" section?

Nothing new about it

Just seeing that makes me shutter, lived with it there for years. It is nothing short of horrible.

 

29 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Just seeing that makes me shutter, lived with it there for years. It is nothing short of horrible.

 

 

It's murderous, It's criminal. Yet the number of foreign tourists is increasing. Are they all suicidal?

14 minutes ago, Puccini said:

 

It's murderous, It's criminal. Yet the number of foreign tourists is increasing. Are they all suicidal?

They are all mostly from the same part of the world with the same air problems. The number of westerners is probably decreasing

The first thing is to replace the oil-burning Tuk Tuk 2-stroke engines! They all burn oil because of their design. Get rid of Two-stroke machines and the air quality will improve in a year!

I stay away from Thailand at this time of the year because of the smoke. I found it very hard to go outside and enjoy the experience when everything was a hazy grey blur with no real colour. It was like the aftermath scene of one of those apocalyptic movies with AQI readings in the high triple digit range. There is nothing pleasant about the smoky season and despite the fact that I love living here, getting away at this time is a good, healthy move and an opportunity to visit family back home. I’ll come back when the rainy season starts with a healthy set of lungs. 

11 minutes ago, Robert_O said:

The first thing is to replace the oil-burning Tuk Tuk 2-stroke engines! They all burn oil because of their design. Get rid of Two-stroke machines and the air quality will improve in a year!

Not sure that their contribution is any more than a drop in the ocean. 

What a disgrace. 

I thought the problem was solved by authorities giving a week long free mrt, bts train travel at Bangkok in January end... 

Every year it’s always the same here they blame on everything but themselves TIT

1 hour ago, Robert_O said:

The first thing is to replace the oil-burning Tuk Tuk 2-stroke engines! They all burn oil because of their design. Get rid of Two-stroke machines and the air quality will improve in a year!

Would also cut down on unnecessary noise too. They love to rev up their “engines” while speeding down sois. 

27 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Every year it’s always the same here they blame on everything but themselves TIT

Agree, the best would be if tourists stop to come. THAT would speed up things a lot 

Not one mention in the news article of the likely causes and efforts by the Government to address the root causes. Pathetic.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Northern and northeastern Thailand are grappling with a significant air pollution crisis, as hazardous PM2.5 levels have surpassed safety standards in 42 provinces. With deteriorating air quality expected to worsen from 18th to 24th February, especially in the north, concerns are mounting.

Concerns are mounting, except in government house who this year have totally ignored the issue.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the focus remains on closely monitoring air quality levels and ensuring public health safety through appropriate preventative measures and timely government interventions, reported The Thaiger.

Definitely important to keep reading those IQ-Air readings. That will solve everything.  Timely government intervention - 555!!!!!

2 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

It's murderous, It's criminal. Yet the number of foreign tourists is increasing. Are they all suicidal?

Had to go to immigration recently. Looked at the beach at Jomtiem, loads of tourists sunbathing. Sky had what appeared to be brown grey clouds but were pollution. Not a chance of seeing koh larn. 200m max visibility. I wore a mask that day but I was pretty much alone in that. Tourists don't care or don't believe,  I guess.

Hot spot map indicated there were a lot of fires in National Parks, etc.

 

The way our brains work we think it is an easy solution.  It is complex. Some of the fires are in remote areas where it is difficult and expensive to get fire fighting resources to.  You can't even get these Idiots from throwing trash all over the place but we expect them to stop burning crops, buy a diesel vehicle with reduced emissions (uses Urea), stop burning trash.  

 

It's every man for themselves.  Some will buy air filters and mostly make it through with little impact.  Others who can't reduce the PM level exposure for long periods will experience health problems.  Government insurance costs will keep going up. Lost wages and productivity while seeking treatment. 

 

You can have all the laws and rules you want but with little enforcement how can you expect any real change?

 

Government needs to start by educating the kids in school on better methods to reduce pollution, the health impact and financial burden toll.  It needs to be a broad initiative and unfortunately the enormous task it would be to educate the current generation is probably to much.

 

 

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The smog is finally clearing up here on Samui. 

One of the reasons that I moved here many years ago.

20 AQI at the moment rising to about 50 AQI by midnight.

You moved there for the smog 🤔

2 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

It's murderous, It's criminal. Yet the number of foreign tourists is increasing. Are they all suicidal?

If you read the news, most are fleeing a war in northern Europe 😴

In the 60's London used to be called 'the smoke', I've driven home from work when you couldn't see two cars ahead, nobody knew what at PM number was, or cared. I live 60 km from Surin (NE) in the countryside, blue sky and fresh air here.

2 hours ago, Robert_O said:

The first thing is to replace the oil-burning Tuk Tuk 2-stroke engines! They all burn oil because of their design. Get rid of Two-stroke machines and the air quality will improve in a year!

And next would be what? Lawn mowers?

2 hours ago, Robert_O said:

The first thing is to replace the oil-burning Tuk Tuk 2-stroke engines! They all burn oil because of their design. Get rid of Two-stroke machines and the air quality will improve in a year!

That was the reason they banned two strokes decades ago in most of the western world. But as I recall, diesel engines are also not very "healthy", and most cars in Thailand (Millions of them) have diesel engines. With the traffic that Thailand has at the moment no wonder the air quality is more than BAD!! This might be a bit touchy, but the "hyper" tourism industry here, that might not help much either I guess....🙄

8 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

In the 60's London used to be called 'the smoke', I've driven home from work when you couldn't see two cars ahead, nobody knew what at PM number was, or cared. I live 60 km from Surin (NE) in the countryside, blue sky and fresh air here.

I remember those days from Norway when the coal smog (sulphuric acid rain!) came over Norway and killed of all life in thousands of lakes!! All due to burning of coal! I am certain the diesel cars (millions of them) are one of the causes in Thailand together with all the crop burning. Also, Thais have this thing about burning all kind if garbage at home. There is NO good system for garbage handling. People just do not care! (They actually do not understand, so get on with a campaign to teach them)

19 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

In the 60's London used to be called 'the smoke', I've driven home from work when you couldn't see two cars ahead, nobody knew what at PM number was, or cared. I live 60 km from Surin (NE) in the countryside, blue sky and fresh air here.

Same area here, 40km from Surin, the sky is grey cloudy, but I do not think is smoke, forecast, partly sunny....

36 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Hot spot map indicated there were a lot of fires in National Parks, etc.

 

The way our brains work we think it is an easy solution.  It is complex. Some of the fires are in remote areas where it is difficult and expensive to get fire fighting resources to.  You can't even get these Idiots from throwing trash all over the place but we expect them to stop burning crops, buy a diesel vehicle with reduced emissions (uses Urea), stop burning trash.  

 

It's every man for themselves.  Some will buy air filters and mostly make it through with little impact.  Others who can't reduce the PM level exposure for long periods will experience health problems.  Government insurance costs will keep going up. Lost wages and productivity while seeking treatment. 

 

You can have all the laws and rules you want but with little enforcement how can you expect any real change?

 

Government needs to start by educating the kids in school on better methods to reduce pollution, the health impact and financial burden toll.  It needs to be a broad initiative and unfortunately the enormous task it would be to educate the current generation is probably to much.

 

 

Your last sentence bears a lot of truth to the problem, the Government does not want an educated population or they might start asking difficult questions.

7 minutes ago, harryviking said:

I remember those days from Norway when the coal smog (sulphuric acid rain!) came over Norway and killed of all life in thousands of lakes!! All due to burning of coal! I am certain the diesel cars (millions of them) are one of the causes in Thailand together with all the crop burning. Also, Thais have this thing about burning all kind if garbage at home. There is NO good system for garbage handling. People just do not care! (They actually do not understand, so get on with a campaign to teach them)

It's true that there is a poor garbage handling system here but in my neck of the woods there has been a huge improvement. When I first moved into my village, burning rubbish was quite normal now it would be frowned upon, people take their household rubbish in bin bags to the market town (17 km) when they do their weekly shopping and deposit them in the bins supplied. I haven't seen field burning for years.

Pattaya ok now

Clowns and  pyromaniacs 

Thailand now 🤨