Thailand Faces Severe Air Pollution Crisis as PM2.5 Levels Soar

[AustinRacing]

Just don’t tell Xi that the two pandas he gifted the PM may be subjected to this air quality. The best the fools can do is to ask people to wear masks. 

[NorthernRyland]

Ah yes lovely Chiang Mai  "The hidden Jewel of Southeast Asia. The Rose of the North." Never a truer statement uttered.

 

After I finish this fancy latte in a restaurant packed full of Chinese tourists and hippy backpackers girls I'm going to step outside to inhale some authentic Lanna Kingdom smoke.

 

[Bday Prang]

2 hours ago, harryviking said:

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....🙄

Two stokes are not "banned" in the west , rather they are no longer fitted to new vehicles, (just like in Thailand)!

Its perfectly legal to use a two stroke motorcycle in the UK or any other two stroke powered machine

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, J Branche said:

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.  

 

 

They would literally have to start executing people caught starting fires to make them stop and even then I think they'd still try it.

 

Most of the people up in the mountains are not Thai even, they're hill tribes from China, Burmese and various mixed races. They could give a damn about air quality. Last thing on their minds.

[Jonathan Swift]

5 hours ago, Gknrd said:

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

 

Do you mean stutter, or shudder? 

[Fab5BKK]

Remember, the safe level IS NOT 37.5 but 15µg/m³ (according to the WHO), unless the pollution's components are less lethal in Thailand...

 

[Bday Prang]

48 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It's only understandable the Thai elite would want to be educated abroad.

 

What percentage of the Thai population are that wealthy?

 

The proposition a GF, educated to that level, would even give a foreigner a second glance, is my first encounter with supreme BS today.

Lets not forget that the "degrees" in Thailand are not necessarily always awarded on a merit based system, depending on ones family / wealth they are handed out like confetti, failure is not an option for those with the correct surnames. This can be rather worrying , I was recently admitted to hospital for emergency surgery, which was cancelled last minute due to a lack of available blood in the blood bank.   A lesser simpler procedure was carried out, the following day a "doctor" presumably degree qualified, explained to me in "Pidgeon" english ( even my mrs was sniggering) that "farang " blood was always rare commodity !   I kid you not

[Jonathan Swift]

They should have specified which type of mask will filter PM 2.5 particles. Most don't. You need the N95 or equivalent. https://aqicn.org/mask/

[atpeace]

The article is in regards to the NE.  Been all over the north east the last 5 days.  Pretty much covered the whole NE minus Nong Khai.  The burning was very mild and that has been the case during most of my  travel this year.  The PM 2.5 is extremely low compared to the numbers even a few years ago. 

 

Most Thais get it!  Polution bad!  Can't fix it over night but definate progress and the local villagers for the most part frown on crop burning, charcoal pits, and trash burning.  Still happens often but it isn't overwhelming as often as prior years. Still can suck though 😞

[Yagoda]

Well looks like Im staying home next week

[atpeace]

10 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

They should have specified which type of mask will filter PM 2.5 particles. Most don't. You need the N95 or equivalent. https://aqicn.org/mask/

Plain surgical masks filter most of PM 2.5 and only about 1/3 less affective than M95 masks.  Dpending on the study the numbers might differ a little.  Telling people they aren't effective would be a terrible idea IMO.  Telling them to use them but  opt for an M95 if possible would be the right communication.

[Jonathan Swift]

19 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Lets not forget that the "degrees" in Thailand are not necessarily always awarded on a merit based system, depending on ones family / wealth they are handed out like confetti, failure is not an option for those with the correct surnames. This can be rather worrying , I was recently admitted to hospital for emergency surgery, which was cancelled last minute due to a lack of available blood in the blood bank.   A lesser simpler procedure was carried out, the following day a "doctor" presumably degree qualified, explained to me in "Pidgeon" english ( even my mrs was sniggering) that "farang " blood was always rare commodity !   I kid you not

You mean Pidgin English? Last I checked Pigeons don't speak English or any other language. My blood type is O negative, next time you need some authentic farang blood. I have extra. 

[Lacessit]

13 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Lets not forget that the "degrees" in Thailand are not necessarily always awarded on a merit based system, depending on ones family / wealth they are handed out like confetti, failure is not an option for those with the correct surnames. This can be rather worrying , I was recently admitted to hospital for emergency surgery, which was cancelled last minute due to a lack of available blood in the blood bank.   A lesser simpler procedure was carried out, the following day a "doctor" presumably degree qualified, explained to me in "Pidgeon" english ( even my mrs was sniggering) that "farang " blood was always rare commodity !   I kid you not

About 4 months ago, I was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia after going to the emergency department of Chiang Rai's government hospital. Four bedside visits by two doctors, both spoke excellent English.

 

OTOH, I broke my forearm in a scooter accident some time ago. A surgeon was very keen to pin and plate my arm, but only after waiting 48 hours for a medication to clear my body. I persuaded him to settle for a cast, my arm healed normally.

 

I agree the competence of doctors in Thailand is something of a lottery.

 

Unless it's an emergency, any surgery I have is done in Australia.

[lordgrinz]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

 

So, do nothing? OK.

[lordgrinz]

15 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

You mean Pidgin English? Last I checked Pigeons don't speak English or any other language. My blood type is O negative, next time you need some authentic farang blood. I have extra. 

 

I'm A+ and my half-Thai daughter is AB+, we may be able to sell our rare blood for some profit 💰

[Peterphuket]

Ah, and in six months we can blame this same government for not doing anything about water management when many parts flood again

Nothing changes a f**k.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, hotsun said:

westerners is probably decreasing

Maybe in certain areas. But many low budgets are coming for having fun despite any pollution 

[Luuk Chaai]

Just south of Hua Hin ...    everyday for the last  2 weeks dozens of Humongous field fires burning like they were competing for first place in hell

 3am  6am  10am  2pm 6pm   don't matter totally out of control..   and of course..  the government does absolutely nothing

 and they can't say they don't see it..  the clouds of smoke billowing up can be spotted for miles on end  . at one point I had to stop my car because I could not see the road in front of me

[Dart12]

Besides the burnings which is a whole cultural issue they'd have to overcome... One of the simplest would be overall motor vehicle exhaust regulation.

 

Seems like every Thai vehicle has been modified for 3 extra hp from bike to truck that just bellow out black smoke

[SOTIRIOS]

...Wasn't It Just Recently That We Read 'The Government Was Tackling The Problem' (?)...

...And Every Other Problem That Thailand Is Facing...

..To Foreign-Government Accolades... (?)

[smew]

all this pollution and Thailand still No 1 destination in SE Asia...wow.. so accurate almost unbelievable 

[Phuket Pete]

Agricultural burning, thick black smoke bellowing from unroadworthy vehicles and garden fires burning toxic waste every evening. If you do nothing at all about any of this then don't be surprised at the damage it is doing. Still, with any luck it will keep the idiot tourists away and condo prices will come crashing down. Suits me !

[Gecko]

5 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

Just south of Hua Hin ...    everyday for the last  2 weeks dozens of Humongous field fires burning like they were competing for first place in hell

 3am  6am  10am  2pm 6pm   don't matter totally out of control..   and of course..  the government does absolutely nothing

 and they can't say they don't see it..  the clouds of smoke billowing up can be spotted for miles on end  . at one point I had to stop my car because I could not see the road in front of me

well, they give good advice, saying stay at home, don't do outdoor activities😆

[JamesPhuket10]

6 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

lovely clear air here in Surin this morning, as usual. I'm wondering what all the fuss is about

 

Same here in my area in Phuket my PM2.5 monitor is displaying 5, I think the max it has ever been is 10, no air filters, window open in the living room. 

 

I do know people in Chiang Mai though, they leave the area for six months when the farmers do their annual crop burning.

 

The smart thing to do would to set op a co-op of farmers where tractors are shared in order to bring costs down, in the West farmers plough their land. 

[JamesPhuket10]

6 hours ago, atpeace said:

Plain surgical masks filter most of PM 2.5 and only about 1/3 less affective than M95 masks.  Dpending on the study the numbers might differ a little.  Telling people they aren't effective would be a terrible idea IMO.  Telling them to use them but  opt for an M95 if possible would be the right communication.

 

I was in a busy part of Phuket for an hour yesterday, I saw quite a few Thais riding motorbikes, they wore masks but not helmets, I thought that was a bit illogical, especially the way bike riders act in Phuket, they all seem to be suicidal.

 

I would not have a bike even if they were free.

[Stocky]

It's fine down south

 

[johng]

11 hours ago, Zack61 said:

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

 

Yes there are very few 2 smoke vehicles remaining  most of the Tuk Tuks converted to gas/LPG  ages ago...their contribution is nothing compared to the free scale burning of fields, forests and rubbish.

[johng]

 

17 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

they wore masks but not helmets, I thought that was a bit illogical,

 

Yes  T.I.T  !!

The mask but no helmet was massively amplified during the other illogical period of the recent past.

[AhFarangJa]

8 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

the Government does not want an educated population

 

many of my thai friends studied at universities abroad, in their second language. could you?

 

my thai gf has a bachelor degree, two masters and two doctorates. how about you?

 

shock horror, thai's better educated than you

Be careful who slag off sunshine, you know absolutely nothing about Me, My History, My Education. Kudos to finding an educated Thai. How many of the population have the qualifications your GF has? How many of the population leave school with a basic knowledge of Thai, how many can read and write Thai fluently, how many can tell you about History, Geography, Science......a very low number of the population, and of those that can, most of them are from Hi-So Families......is your Girlfriend by any chance?

[JamesPhuket10]

9 minutes ago, johng said:

 

 

Yes  T.I.T  !!

The mask but no helmet was massively amplified during the other illogical period of the recent past.

 

I assume you are referring to Covid and the mass wearing of masks was illogical?

 

If so:

 

Oh, of course! I totally see your point. I mean, why would we ever trust surgeons—who spend over a decade training in medicine—when we have the enlightened wisdom of Facebook warriors and pub experts to guide us?

 

Clearly, these highly educated professionals must be absolute morons for wearing masks while cutting open human bodies. What do they know about bacteria and airborne transmission and the aerosol affect anyway. 

 

They have spent over 100 years using masks because they work—but hey, I’m sure a PhD in WhatsApp University says otherwise.

 

Next time a critic goes in for surgery, they should be sure to tell the doctor to ‘ditch the mask’ because, obviously, it’s all a big conspiracy!

 

And let’s not forget—before COVID, masks were miraculously effective for preventing infections in hospitals.

 

But the moment they were recommended for the public, suddenly they became ‘useless’ overnight.

 

Fascinating! Maybe gravity will stop working too if the government tells us to use it. 😄

 

I bet surgeons only wear them for fashion. I mean, nothing says ‘style’ like a blue paper mask!

 

Did you know? The world’s top medical professionals are secretly dumber than Dave down the pub.

 

Next time a critic gets an X-ray, they should make sure to tell the technician those lead aprons are a hoax too.