Pollution

[blabla1]

I am just curious about air pollution in Chiang mai, i went to the hospital because of difficulty taking deep breaths, now for about a year or so, i am physically fit and train every day, but somehow my body isn't getting the oxygen it needs, they x-rayed my chest and said i should stop smoking,my bronchials are all infected and probably have been for a long time, being a non smoker, i was a little shook up, the doctor said ,this time of year, the air quality is very bad, it's my third year here and i have seen it much worse than at the moment, is there something i should know about?

[wolf5370]

Why did you post this in the Buddhist forum out of interest?

Chiang Mai forum makes more sense (or Health forum perhaps)? Mod?

As to your post - I haven't noticed anything. Burning hasn't started yet - mid next month through March for that. I suggest you get a second opinion on the medical - Thai friend of mine just went down with TB (6 months of meds!).

//Edit: Ah its been moved while I was typing //

[Ulysses G.]

There were already posts claiming that it was "polluted" in October.

Don't worry, it won't be long until the burning starts in earnest.

[anonymouse]

It's like Christmas the build up to it gets earlier and earlier each year

[gotlost]

It is less this year than in the past. There is no pollution in the air at the moment but wait tell the end of February, maybe.

[Semper]

Stop smoking

[Semper]

It is less this year than in the past. There is no pollution in the air at the moment but wait tell the end of February, maybe.

[realthaideal]

It is less this year than in the past. There is no pollution in the air at the moment but wait tell the end of February, maybe.

Some of us prefer to see the air as half-empty !

[blabla1]

I guess what i am asking is, does anyone else suffer from bronchial problems due to moving to Chiang mai?

[Mickeem]

I guess what i am asking is, does anyone else suffer from bronchial problems due to moving to Chiang mai?

Yes - the cause.. Diesel soot spewed out from the tens of thousands of pick up trucks that cram the streets of Chiang Mai

[thrilled]

air quality in that city are really bad.I vacationed there for 3 days.I felt it in my lungs when I got off the plane.

I'm not in A hurry to go there again.You smoke also.Only A matter of time.

[CMX]

air quality in that city are really bad.I vacationed there for 3 days.I felt it in my lungs when I got off the plane.

I'm not in A hurry to go there again.You smoke also.Only A matter of time.

It would help if we knew when this occurred. As noted above, mid-February through March, the air becomes particularly bad due to burning farm fields. This is still done in Thailand, and Laos and Myanmar as well - all adding up.

Perhaps I read the OP incorrectly, but it seems to me he is saying that doctors told him that your tests show that he's a smoker - but he is NOT. If he is not and has not been, I'd suppose that he should have follow-up or alternative diagnosis.

Meanwhle, plan if possible to be away from town for six weeks, although it is unlikely that it caused the condition described. But many people have described to me how breathing problems become worse during burning season. Regular aircon filters do not help

[Thailand]

With the rise in rice prices it looks like the farmers are now planting 2-3 times a year so expect even more pollution in the future.

As for not burning now, just look around outside of CH, the burnt verges and fields are everywhere and out on some of the golf courses the smell is noxious and smoke can be seen rising in many places.

Strangely Doi Suthep is still visible which you would not expect this time of the year but it is certainly slowly disappearing.

The hospitals will soon be filling up with all ages with respiratory problems.

My missus has had two serious respiratory illnesses in the last 4 years. We love the area and Thailand in general but health issues have to be top priority and in the future may sadly have to consider alternatives or at least not be here when it is at it's wors't.

[bangkokcitylimits]

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[gotlost]

Here is the site for checking on the air pollution for Chiang Mai and other areas in Thailand.

http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/QueryAir.cfm?task=findsite

[Semper]

It is less this year than in the past. There is no pollution in the air at the moment but wait tell the end of February, maybe.

Some of us prefer to see the air as half-empty !

Look at posts #10 and #11.

[jayjay0]

I guess what i am asking is, does anyone else suffer from bronchial problems due to moving to Chiang mai?

Yes - the cause.. Diesel soot spewed out from the tens of thousands of pick up trucks that cram the streets of Chiang Mai

If that is the cause of pollution in Chiang Mai Bangkok must be unlivable.

Most of the smog comes as has been noted in the spring. The burning of rice fields and forest fires play a part in this also

I am not a scientist but I believe that there is a shield over the valley that holds a lot of the pollution in.

I believe it is called heat inversion not sure.

If a person has respatory problems Chiang Mai is defiantly not the place to be doing the burning season.

[blabla1]

I guess what i am asking is, does anyone else suffer from bronchial problems due to moving to Chiang mai?

Yes - the cause.. Diesel soot spewed out from the tens of thousands of pick up trucks that cram the streets of Chiang Mai

If that is the cause of pollution in Chiang Mai Bangkok must be unlivable.

Most of the smog comes as has been noted in the spring. The burning of rice fields and forest fires play a part in this also

I am not a scientist but I believe that there is a shield over the valley that holds a lot of the pollution in.

I believe it is called heat inversion not sure.

If a person has respatory problems Chiang Mai is defiantly not the place to be doing the burning season.

maybe right, i have never suffered from any sort of lung problems before,since being here it has been getting worse and worse for me,thankyou all for your help, i gotta get out a here for a while.

[nikster]

Avoid CM in March and April.

If you think this is caused by cars, please do some basic research: It's not. It's caused by burning of fields and forests, which has a long tradition in Burma, Laos, and Thailand. I lived in the lush valley of Pai for the last 5 years where car pollution is obviously not an issue given the number of cars. Yet the pollution here is as bad, or worse than Chiang Mai. It's hard to believe if you're here at any other time, right now for example, there's a lush green valley, jungle on all surrounding mountains, and generally it's very nice. But once the burning starts, it's worse than downtown Cairo at rush hour, only 24/7.

The smog covers the entirety of northern Thailand during March and April. Looking at the govt data you can see that it sometimes started as early as February.

http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/QueryAir.cfm?task=findstandard

This is my main concern about living in Chiang Mai, to be honest. I have kids and I don't want them to develop lung problems they'll carry with them their entire life.

If you have lung problems, definitely avoid northern Thailand - stay in the south, near the ocean. The air is fine there. Even BKK is way better than up here, thanks to being close to the ocean, and despite the insane traffic there.

[gotlost]

Avoid CM in March and April.

If you think this is caused by cars, please do some basic research: It's not. It's caused by burning of fields and forests, which has a long tradition in Burma, Laos, and Thailand. I lived in the lush valley of Pai for the last 5 years where car pollution is obviously not an issue given the number of cars. Yet the pollution here is as bad, or worse than Chiang Mai. It's hard to believe if you're here at any other time, right now for example, there's a lush green valley, jungle on all surrounding mountains, and generally it's very nice. But once the burning starts, it's worse than downtown Cairo at rush hour, only 24/7.

The smog covers the entirety of northern Thailand during March and April. Looking at the govt data you can see that it sometimes started as early as February.

http://www.pcd.go.th...sk=findstandard

This is my main concern about living in Chiang Mai, to be honest. I have kids and I don't want them to develop lung problems they'll carry with them their entire life.

If you have lung problems, definitely avoid northern Thailand - stay in the south, near the ocean. The air is fine there. Even BKK is way better than up here, thanks to being close to the ocean, and despite the insane traffic there.

nikster has given excellent advise. From <www,pac.go.th>. PM10 reading for 28 Jan. is 47.3. Year ago todate 33.0. High last year March 8 was 268.4

[uptheos]

But once the burning starts, it's worse than downtown Cairo at rush hour, only 24/7.

I think downtown Cairo has it beat right now!

[johnsjourney]

I used to have bronchial problems from time to time, requiring stays in hospital, but I slowed down the pace of my life which I believe gives more energy to the immune system, and also took the family out of here during March and April each year.

This year we're staying in the country, although may go to the sea if it gets bad. So far so good, but I can see from that clearer data set gotlost linked to above it started rising in February last year in Chiang Mai.

[nikster]

But once the burning starts, it's worse than downtown Cairo at rush hour, only 24/7.

I think downtown Cairo has it beat right now!

Ummm... yeah minus the rioting, burning buildings, and gun shots... whoops

[Priceless]

Avoid CM in March and April.

If you think this is caused by cars, please do some basic research: It's not. It's caused by burning of fields and forests, which has a long tradition in Burma, Laos, and Thailand. I lived in the lush valley of Pai for the last 5 years where car pollution is obviously not an issue given the number of cars. Yet the pollution here is as bad, or worse than Chiang Mai. It's hard to believe if you're here at any other time, right now for example, there's a lush green valley, jungle on all surrounding mountains, and generally it's very nice. But once the burning starts, it's worse than downtown Cairo at rush hour, only 24/7.

The smog covers the entirety of northern Thailand during March and April. Looking at the govt data you can see that it sometimes started as early as February.

http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/QueryAir.cfm?task=findstandard

This is my main concern about living in Chiang Mai, to be honest. I have kids and I don't want them to develop lung problems they'll carry with them their entire life.

If you have lung problems, definitely avoid northern Thailand - stay in the south, near the ocean. The air is fine there. Even BKK is way better than up here, thanks to being close to the ocean, and despite the insane traffic there.

Just to set the facts right, for once:

1/ The sharp pollution peak in Chiang Mai normally comes approximately between the middle of February and the end of March. Last year April was really bad, but this was a VERY unusual occurrence. That month CM had nine observations with PM>10 pollution in excess of 120 µg/m³ (the Pollution Control Department standard). This can be compared to the totally six such observations during the 10 years from 2000-2009!

2/ If you go to Bangkok to avoid the pollution be VERY careful where you choose to stay. E.g. the Din Daeng area is a lot more polluted than Chiang Mai, except during March.

To demonstrate my points, here's a graph based on PCD raw data:

/ Priceless

[gotlost]

Look at the Hotspot Count on the uper right hand corner. These are fires. If you look close the small red dots are the locations.

http://www.weather.gov.sg/wip/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PUB.1003.505

[Mapguy]

Thanks, Priceless. April was indeed bad, and over a very broad area.

A comprehensive report is attached for Thailand. Read and weep.

Thailand_Air_Quality_Profile_-_2010_Edition.pdf

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Thanks, Priceless. April was indeed bad, and over a very broad area.

A comprehensive report is attached for Thailand. Read and weep.

That's a really good report; thanks for posting.

Why weep though.. it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was, and the trend seems to be towards improvement. (Which contradicts a lot of posters who claim "OH the air was so much better 10 years ago.". It wasn't.

[gotlost]

Thanks, Priceless. April was indeed bad, and over a very broad area.

A comprehensive report is attached for Thailand. Read and weep.

That's a really good report; thanks for posting.

Why weep though.. it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was, and the trend seems to be towards improvement. (Which contradicts a lot of posters who claim "OH the air was so much better 10 years ago.". It wasn't.

Clear as a bell today.

[jayjay0]

Thanks, Priceless. April was indeed bad, and over a very broad area.

A comprehensive report is attached for Thailand. Read and weep.

That's a really good report; thanks for posting.

Why weep though.. it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was, and the trend seems to be towards improvement. (Which contradicts a lot of posters who claim "OH the air was so much better 10 years ago.". It wasn't.

Clear as a bell today.

Not in Chiang Mai

[hmficc]

I guess what i am asking is, does anyone else suffer from bronchial problems due to moving to Chiang mai?

Yes - the cause.. Diesel soot spewed out from the tens of thousands of pick up trucks that cram the streets of Chiang Mai

If that is the cause of pollution in Chiang Mai Bangkok must be unlivable.

Most of the smog comes as has been noted in the spring. The burning of rice fields and forest fires play a part in this also

I am not a scientist but I believe that there is a shield over the valley that holds a lot of the pollution in.

I believe it is called heat inversion not sure.

If a person has respatory problems Chiang Mai is defiantly not the place to be doing the burning season.

maybe right, i have never suffered from any sort of lung problems before,since being here it has been getting worse and worse for me,thankyou all for your help, i gotta get out a here for a while.

After 5 years in CM my wife was advised to leave by a lcl Doc because of cronic broncitis she developed in CM. We moved to Florida 9 months ago. She has been well since. We miss it but it was harmful for her.