Bangkok Grapples with Alarming Air Pollution Levels

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Smart Air

In a worrying development, Bangkok, Thailand has been ranked eighth among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) rating of 141, according to the latest report from IQAir. This classification falls into the category of "Unhealthy for sensitive groups," sparking renewed health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues.

 

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a measure used universally to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. The index spans from 0 to over 300, with accompanying descriptors such as "Good," "Moderate," "Unhealthy," and "Hazardous" to provide guidance on the potential health effects of air quality levels.

 

The global snapshot of air pollution today (March 20, 8am, IQAir) places the following cities in the top spots:

 

• Kathmandu, Nepal leads the pack with an AQI of 188.
• Delhi, India follows with 176.
• Lahore, Pakistan registers 156.
• Algiers, Algeria at 155.
• Hanoi, Vietnam also with 155.
• Dhaka, Bangladesh records an AQI of 151.
• Dubai, UAE notes 143.
• Bangkok, Thailand with 141.
• Wuhan, China reports 138.
• Warsaw, Poland at 132.

Bangkok's placement alongside cities such as Dubai and Hanoi illustrates a regional struggle with air pollution exacerbated by urbanisation and industrial growth.

 

 

 

Raising domestic alarm, several other Thai regions exhibit even poorer air quality. Notably:

 

• Samut Songkhram, Thailand records an AQI of 163, topping Thailand's list of worst affected areas.
• Nakhon Pathom, Thailand at 156.
• Saraburi, Thailand at 153.
• Samut Sakhon, Thailand at 149.
• Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan and Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan both with an AQI of 146.
• Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand at 143.
• Bangkok, Thailand at 141.
• Phetchabun, Thailand at 140.
• Samut Prakan, Thailand at 132.

Air pollution is gauged by the presence of six primary pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. PM2.5 particles, in particular, pose a severe threat as they are small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to respiratory disorders, heart disease, and other health complications.

 

Amid concerning pollution levels, Bangkok's residents are advised to take preventative measures such as wearing masks, curtailing outdoor activities, and employing air purifiers indoors. As of now, comprehensive government strategies to tackle this escalating issue remain absent, leaving the city engulfed in its toxic haze.

 

Adding to the woes, the Thai Meteorological Department warns of summer storms affecting much of Thailand, including regions like Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan. A recent high-pressure system from China has led to a slight temperature dip, strong winds, and the possibility of thunderstorms, prompting residents to prepare for sudden weather shifts while farmers should safeguard their livelihoods against potential climatic impacts, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

[billd766]

And out here in rural Kamphaeng Phet we were at 128 or 46.5 this morning.

 

Now it is 119.

[MikeandDow]

And again the Goverment does What !!!!!

[Mr Meeseeks]

They are totally incapable of dealing with this issue.

[Celsius]

4 hours ago, billd766 said:

And out here in rural Kamphaeng Phet we were at 128 or 46.5 this morning.

 

Now it is 119.

 

Is that good or bad?

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

Is that good or bad?

Bad.

 

The government 'struggles' with these levels every year.

We all know that they will do nothing about it, just like previous governments.

 

Here on Samui - 86 US AQI⁺   (moderate)

Main pollutant: PM2.5 28  µg/m³

This is why I moved from Bangkok to Samui.

[Emdog]

"Bangkok Grapples Endures with Alarming Air Pollution Levels." There, fixed.

"grapples" implies some sort of struggle or effort. Here the government rolls over and plays dead.... or maybe they aren't playing?

[BayArea]

at this point, they should only report when Bangkok has a good air day. 

[BoganInParasite]

180 in northern Nan province this morning.

[hotsun]

They should spray water into the air like last time

[AustinRacing]

Come on Thailand you can do it. Aiming for No1 spot for quite some time. Go go go!!!

[Hanuman2547]

A good reason to avoid Bangkok but many parts of Thailand suffer from very poor air quality.

[spidermike007]

This is an absolute travesty, and fall squarely on the tiny shoulders of the do nothing PM. They're absolute unwillingness to do anything about this situation is an abomination and the list of things that could be done to address this problem are countless.

 

They could start by pulling over diesel vehicles spewing out enormous clouds of black smoke, but that would require the highway patrol to actually do some work, which they utterly refuse to do.

 

They could then get the provincial authorities to crack down on the heinous crop burning that's going on with sugar and rice, which is being perpetrated by farmers who have zero regard for their country nor their neighbors. Crack down on them hard and set an example. For the first offense with a small fine, much larger fines for a second offense and massive fines for the third offense. Word would get around and Farmers would start using more environment mentally friendly techniques even though they required more work. 

 

The feds and provincial authorities don't seem to care one iota, and even if they care they don't seem to be capable of policing the areas, and even if they were capable of placing the areas they don't seem to have the conviction to impose large enough fines to stop these farmers.

 

In essence these farmers are practicing a form of terrorism against their own people, they are killing people, they are putting people in the hospital, they are shortening lives, and they are making life miserable for a significant portion of the nation, simply because it's easier and less expensive to burn. The degree to which the smoke is toxic is unfathomable. it is the absolute epitome of self-absorption and zero concern for others. These farmers need to be punished in a very expensive and convincing manner. 

 

If the government cared one iota, which they don't, they would start convincing farmers to switch crops and start moving away from 16th century crops like rice and sugar, moving toward more progressive crops which are potentially more profitable. If they felt the need to stick with rice and sugar they could educate the public on how those crops can be processed without burning, and subsidize the purchase of the required equipment.

[newbee2022]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:45 PM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Smart Air

In a worrying development, Bangkok, Thailand has been ranked eighth among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) rating of 141, according to the latest report from IQAir. This classification falls into the category of "Unhealthy for sensitive groups," sparking renewed health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues.

 

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a measure used universally to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. The index spans from 0 to over 300, with accompanying descriptors such as "Good," "Moderate," "Unhealthy," and "Hazardous" to provide guidance on the potential health effects of air quality levels.

 

The global snapshot of air pollution today (March 20, 8am, IQAir) places the following cities in the top spots:

 

• Kathmandu, Nepal leads the pack with an AQI of 188.
• Delhi, India follows with 176.
• Lahore, Pakistan registers 156.
• Algiers, Algeria at 155.
• Hanoi, Vietnam also with 155.
• Dhaka, Bangladesh records an AQI of 151.
• Dubai, UAE notes 143.
• Bangkok, Thailand with 141.
• Wuhan, China reports 138.
• Warsaw, Poland at 132.

Bangkok's placement alongside cities such as Dubai and Hanoi illustrates a regional struggle with air pollution exacerbated by urbanisation and industrial growth.

 

 

 

Raising domestic alarm, several other Thai regions exhibit even poorer air quality. Notably:

 

• Samut Songkhram, Thailand records an AQI of 163, topping Thailand's list of worst affected areas.
• Nakhon Pathom, Thailand at 156.
• Saraburi, Thailand at 153.
• Samut Sakhon, Thailand at 149.
• Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan and Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan both with an AQI of 146.
• Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand at 143.
• Bangkok, Thailand at 141.
• Phetchabun, Thailand at 140.
• Samut Prakan, Thailand at 132.

Air pollution is gauged by the presence of six primary pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. PM2.5 particles, in particular, pose a severe threat as they are small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to respiratory disorders, heart disease, and other health complications.

 

Amid concerning pollution levels, Bangkok's residents are advised to take preventative measures such as wearing masks, curtailing outdoor activities, and employing air purifiers indoors. As of now, comprehensive government strategies to tackle this escalating issue remain absent, leaving the city engulfed in its toxic haze.

 

Adding to the woes, the Thai Meteorological Department warns of summer storms affecting much of Thailand, including regions like Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan. A recent high-pressure system from China has led to a slight temperature dip, strong winds, and the possibility of thunderstorms, prompting residents to prepare for sudden weather shifts while farmers should safeguard their livelihoods against potential climatic impacts, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

I'm missing 

CHIANGMAI 😱

Last days 288, more is coming the next weeks

Unlivable in those days😵‍💫

[neeray]

Polluted air. Polluted water. Polluted grounds. And nothing much is ever done about it.

[StandardIssue]

Who has convinced theses poor citizens that common surgical masks will do any good whatsoever in combating 2.5 micrometer particles.

 

You need a proper gas mask!!

 

[Tarteso]

All Asia is a Big hole of <deleted>..

 

[watchcat]

22 hours ago, Emdog said:

Here the government rolls over and plays dead.... or maybe they aren't playing?

 

Wishful thinking.

[fondue zoo]

On 3/21/2025 at 12:37 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

They are totally incapable of dealing with this issue.

 

They are totally unwilling to deal with this issue?

[1duckyboy]

The Thai government has proposed fining polluters who exceed the government recommended pollution emissions. What a farce. The polluters will continue to pollute and pass the cost of the fines on to the consumers. The government will collect the fines and Thai air quality will continue to get worse, eventually resulting in a general increase in respiratory diseases and cancers.

 

The only way to decrease pollution is to set limits for emissions and stop emissions producers from production if they can't meet the government set standards. It is an expensive fix as new technologies and equipment must be developed that add to the cost of the products. However, it does work. I've seen it work in Southern California in the '70-'80s when their smog problem was similar to Bangkok's

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, 1duckyboy said:

The Thai government has proposed fining polluters who exceed the government recommended pollution emissions. What a farce. The polluters will continue to pollute and pass the cost of the fines on to the consumers. The government will collect the fines and Thai air quality will continue to get worse, eventually resulting in a general increase in respiratory diseases and cancers.

 

The only way to decrease pollution is to set limits for emissions and stop emissions producers from production if they can't meet the government set standards. It is an expensive fix as new technologies and equipment must be developed that add to the cost of the products. However, it does work. I've seen it work in Southern California in the '70-'80s when their smog problem was similar to Bangkok's

Im not sure how much of it is in thailands control either. The countries around them are all just as much of a problem

[wasabi]

In addition to the usual suspects motorbikes are an underreported contributor to air pollution. While there are still too many trucks and buses spewing filth most cars on Thai roadways are no longer major sources of pollution. Motorbike emissions are still largely unregulated and contribute to noise pollution by intentionally being modified to make loud noises.

 

Another issue is due to wanting to sit in air-conditioned vehicles and laziness many cars and trucks sit idling for long periods of time in parking lots and garages. I'll be surprised if air pollution improves meaningful in Thailand in my lifetime though I'd love to be proven wrong.

[mfd101]

13 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Im not sure how much of it is in thailands control either. The countries around them are all just as much of a problem

But that's just an excuse for doing nothing. Everyone points at everyone else ...

[Peterphuket]

Just looking around my area, around Kaeng Krachan, every day, 7 days a week, here on the provincial road between 50 and 100 heavy trucks with trailers, sometimes you wonder if they are moving mountains?
If that is with me, in how many other areas in the country does that also occur.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The Thailand figures did not surprise me but the Katmandu pollution level did!

[LarryLEB]

Earlier this morning (March 22) Pattaya was over 150 AQI.

[hotchilli]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:45 PM, webfact said:

In a worrying development, Bangkok, Thailand has been ranked eighth among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) rating of 141, according to the latest report from IQAir. This classification falls into the category of "Unhealthy for sensitive groups," sparking renewed health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues

Let's see TAT put a spin on this

[Polaky]

Been absolutely terrible in pattaya,  I don't smoke but it feels like I am have a couple of packets a day, smell has a hint of sulphur,  the pollution on the streets is getting worse, ironically people are straining their necks to come over here, they can have it.

[terryofcrete]

I was visiting my brother in rural West Cork Ireland and there was lots if storm debris strewn about the property. I asked him could he burn it ...he laughed ...if you light a match someone will report you and they'll be out to you within the day.he said.

I thought of Chiangmai immediately and nodded my assent. 
rules don't apply in Thailand, unless there's money in it. 

[Aussie999]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:15 PM, MikeandDow said:

And again the Goverment does What !!!!!

they are doing the same thing, as every year.... sweet F all.