Bangkok Grapples with Alarming Air Pollution Levels

[LOS1]

And here we have the Thai gov. subsidizing the price of diesel at ~5 bt/l. One of the more polluting of the fossil fuels.   

[ronster]

Not good as standards are slipping.

Need get back to #1 👍

[Aussie999]

2 hours 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

Thailand admits, some of it is their cause... they can't complain about their neighbors unless they do something positive themselves.

[Patong2021]

2 hours ago, neeray said:

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

 

Beautiful Thailand. land of Smiles. So many people want to come, they need to change the visas. When people stop coming and the money tap is shut off then they will act.

[black tabby12345]

Bangkok Grapples with Alarming Air Pollution Levels

 

Mostly thanks to 2 of the Pheu Thai Premiers after 2000.

Thaksin and Yingluck(his sister) Shinawatra, both introduced the policy encouraging even low income people to buy cars.

 

Because of what they did, BKK's air quality worsened again (temporally bettered after the completion of the BTS). 

As well as more and more people went  into the debt they struggle to repay.

[StandardIssue]

3 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

 

They are totally unwilling to deal with this issue?

Deal with it how?

If they wanted to deal with it they would probably have to do sometime as drastic as prohibiting private cars in Bangkok and only Taxi,bus, tuk tuk,  ride service or commercial truck.

[johng]

22 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

have to do sometime as drastic as prohibiting private cars in Bangkok

 

Its not cars causing this horrid pollution yes they contribute but the main cause is the idiots burning fields,forests and trash  if they could stop those 3 then it would be much much better  without draconian and damaging prohibition on private transport.

[Presnock]

On 3/20/2025 at 9:37 PM, Mr Meeseeks said:

They are totally incapable of dealing with this issue.

actually is a S. Asia problem - now way they will get all the countries to stop their burning!

[chilli42]

This must be a crushing disappointment for the government. After these years of committees and inaction they still have seven slots to climb to get to the top position. Hopefully they can shake off the disappointment and get back to doing even less than before. Surely with a bit of luck, the right weather conditions and the usual ruthless efficiency of the government that coveted #1 spot can be theirs next year.

[Caldera]

After the previous weeks had been noticeably better, it's quite a filthy mess right now. 

[shdmn]

8 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

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!!

 

Surgical masks are useless but a good N95 mask that seals around your mouth and nose will filter out most PM2.5.

[shdmn]

4 hours ago, johng said:

 

Its not cars causing this horrid pollution yes they contribute but the main cause is the idiots burning fields,forests and trash  if they could stop those 3 then it would be much much better  without draconian and damaging prohibition on private transport.

 

Credible studies suggest vehicles are responsible for up to 40% of the pollution.  During covid the pollution levels dropped significantly due to reduced traffic.   When you add in other sources like heavy industry and coal generation,  I think field burning is less than half.  Burning fields is a SE Asia problem so there is only so much Thailand can do on their own.  They can definitely do something about vehicle pollution but seem totally unwilling.

[johng]

8 minutes ago, shdmn said:

During covid the pollution levels dropped significantly

 

Hence my mention of draconian actions that caused misery to  normal everyday people,  many of whom are still suffering the varied repercussions of such madness.

[Lion21]

Spread the word around the world so tourists realize that this is not a good country to visit. No one goes on vacation to get lung cancer.

[2ndhomepattaya]

14 hours ago, BayArea said:

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

This is going to be a very short report

[shdmn]

4 hours ago, Lion21 said:

Spread the word around the world so tourists realize that this is not a good country to visit. No one goes on vacation to get lung cancer.

So you are cheerleading for Thailand to fail?  I guess you will fit right in around here.

[StandardIssue]

12 hours ago, johng said:

 

Its not cars causing this horrid pollution yes they contribute but the main cause is the idiots burning fields,forests and trash  if they could stop those 3 then it would be much much better  without draconian and damaging prohibition on private transport.

 

We are talking Bangkok. If you do a little research (which it appears you have not) even the air quality within the city itself fluctuates quite a bit depending on location and hour of the day. Burning fields miles away do not contribute as much as the ever present gas and diesel vehicle exhaust being spewed locally 24 hours a day 365 days a year right into the local streets. Take a leisurely walk down Sukumvit during rush hour to experience this quite obvious reality.

[it is what it is]

On 3/20/2025 at 11:15 AM, MikeandDow said:

And again the Goverment does What !!!!!

 

how very dare you?! i'll thank you to know the government takes very positive actions, it closes schools for a few days and free public transport for a week. next problem?!

[Mentors65]

as long the tourists come in here in masses the Government will do nothing against air pollution

[PuiPuiHarry]

Does solving air pollution bring any revenue to the Thai governing elite ? None, so.. why to do something... Same as flooding.. and build dykes.

[lordgrinz]

AQI of 210 this morning here in Bangkok, always nice to wake up to polluted air, it goes well with the polluted land, polluted water, and the chemically contaminated produce.

[Harrisfan]

On 3/21/2025 at 1:46 AM, Celsius said:

 

Is that good or bad?

Under 100 is ok. Under 50 is good. Over 150 is getting harmful. 120ish causes issues.

[Skunkfarben]

On 3/20/2025 at 9:37 PM, Mr Meeseeks said:

They are totally incapable of dealing with this issue.

 

Any issue

[Skunkfarben]

This problem never getting fixed. I want to leave Thailand. It's all going bad. Pollution, taxes coming, price for everything. Crime, tourists, immigration. I can not afford to go home and double to take the wife.

[terryofcrete]

On 3/22/2025 at 3:55 AM, Polaky said:

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.

Just got back from Pattaya, don't smoke , after the first week I was coughing up dark phlegm .... 

[anyone]

Just a week ago the air quality was in the green zone (47-49). I was happy but the joy was short-lived and everything turned red again. It is unclear why the air quality is changing so abruptly...
Did everyone suddenly stop burning everything a week ago? That doesn't happen.

[lordgrinz]

5 hours ago, anyone said:

Just a week ago the air quality was in the green zone (47-49). I was happy but the joy was short-lived and everything turned red again. It is unclear why the air quality is changing so abruptly...
Did everyone suddenly stop burning everything a week ago? That doesn't happen.

 

Maybe they stopped burning during the usual burning months to appease the new PM and government threats, now that the government has done it's dog and pony show and is now ignoring them until next year, the riff-raff are now back to burning with impunity.

[Cameroni]

Just move to Chiang Mai. Burning season is lovely this year. Have not run the air purifiers once.