Smoke, Smog, Dust 2012 Chiang Mai

[el jefe]

"Kitti Thupsri, technical specialist at the centre said that three aircraft are set to start the artificial rainmaking operation over Chiang Mai’s provincial seat, the first targeted location to alleviate haze and suspended dust particles that have been at more that safety standard for several days.

However, he said the operation may not be fully effective due to unfavourable weather and low humidity in the air.

The rainmaking operation will continue until October to ease the haze problem and drought in the northern region, he added."

Another impressive demonstration of the great scientific prowess here. I suspect their rain making operations will be far more successful during the May-Oct period.

Not sure if the October reference is something lost in translation or not, but seems more likely than not.

Other than that I'm not sure what prowess you feel the specialist are lacking? One or two posters here do seem to have some education in the field, and if you are one of them I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be all ears to hear from somebody with more impressive scientific prowess.

Would be a nice change from the more or less retarded rants here, including the one wunderkind who not only complained that the new air quality report site was not (yet?) available in English, but even insinuated it might be to keep the farangs in the dark about things. Never mind we are not in an English speaking country and that people like that are indeed best kept in the dark, without any Internet available preferably.

Is it a "retarded rant" when I say you can't trust the govt website (using google translate) because the current reading in the city is a healthy 109, and the reading at city hall is a barely polluted 122. Does anyone else think the air quality is marginally acceptable as the govt is reporting?

[jamesbrock]

We are spending three days in Chiang Mai next month with friends who are visiting from the UK, is it really that unbearable at the moment?

Yes.

I'm gutted (an old New Zealand saying)

I've spent the last 2 years in China, most polluted and poorest air quality in the world, arguably. No problems.

I moved to Chiang Mai 5 weeks ago, after many holidays here, love it.

For the last 3 days I've found it difficult to breathe. Coughing up ummmm, stuff, sore throat, running nose.

I would go to hospital, but what would they do... I know the cause and I know the cure...

Chiang Mai is such an incredibly good place! I love the arts, the culture, the diverse mix of people here, the proximity of idyllic spots, the food..... I could go on.

But now I am looking for work elsewhere.

For me, the best place in the world, but one thing kills it. If I live here long time, I know it will shorten my life.

So sad...

Everybody has different tolerances, so while not nullifying peteinchina's comments, I'll add that it hasn't been unbearable for me, and I'm glad I came - in fact, we have extended our stay twice.

Upon discovering this thread last week on my way here, I seriously considered not coming, but after flying in last Sunday and spending over a week here, I can say that - smoke issues notwithstanding - I'm glad we came. It has been bad here, yes, with eyes stinging (not badly, but noticeable) when out riding and last night a runny nose, but it hasn't yet affected my asthma, which I thought it would do.

On Wednesday, we rode up to Wat Doi Suthep; Thursday, up to Buphing Palace; Friday to the Tiger Kingdom in Mae Rim; Saturday was spent at Royal Flora, and yesterday we went up to Doi Pui and Khun Chankian - so we've been right in the thick of it, so to speak. Would I prefer it to be clear and gorgeous? Of course. Would I like to experience this day in day out for a few months every year? Definitely not. Would I change my mind and not come after having experienced it? No, but the fact that we were only going to be here a week or so, and I can leave any time if it gets too much, weighs a lot on that answer.

As I wrote, everyone's tolerances to this type of stuff differs, and being an asthmatic I was expecting some difficulties, but after being out in it for a few days and experiencing some ill affects, I definitely wouldn't let it stop me coming to visit for three days.

[jonwilly]

On route to Issan.

Smog clears past Uttradit.

Smog in hills on route 12, clear on run to Khon Kean.

john

[Tywais]

Chiang Rai dust particle levels at highest in country's north

CHIANG RAI, Feb 27 - Dust particles in this northern province on Monday were measured at the highest level in the region at 295.5 micrograms per cubic metre, its governor said.

Thanin Supasaen spoke of the haze situation in Mae Sai district, adding the particles were measured at 253.7 microgrammes per cubic metre in the provincial seat.

The local authorities are trying to address the problem by making artificial rain, which cannot yet be done due to the low level of humidity in the atmosphere.

The governor noted he had assigned all related districts and subdistrict administrative organisations to have fire trucks sprinkling water tomorrow, as a short-term solution, in the hopes of easing particulate density.

He also asked local residents to stop all burning activities until the situation eases or there is rainfall. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 27 February 2012

[Tywais]

Rainmaking launched to combat northern haze

The Northern Royal Rainmaking Centre initiated its first operation to fight haze and drought in northern provinces on Monday afternoon by inducing moisture to the atmosphere to fall as rain and clear the skies.

Three aircraft are set to start the artificial rainmaking operation over Chiang Mai's provincial seat, the first targeted location, to alleviate haze and suspended dust particles that have been at levels higher than the safety standard for several days.

However, the operation may not be fully effective due to unfavourable weather and low air humidity, said Kitti Thupsri, a technical specialist at the centre.

The rainmaking operation will continue until October to ease the haze problem and drought in the northern region, he added.

Meanwhile, a forest fire spread to an area near 20 military houses behind the Phu Pieng district office in Nan province, causing haze in several areas including Nan municipality where dust particles were measured on Monday at 134 microgrammes per cubic metre, higher than the safety standard.

Officials are working to bring the fire under control.

Nan mayor Surapol Thienrasutr asked for cooperation from residents to refrain from burning because increasing dust particles could substantially affect the health of the public.

If such fires spread to other property, legal action will be taken against violators.

-- The Nation 27 February 2012

[MESmith]

On Wednesday, we rode up to Wat Doi Suthep; Thursday, up to Buphing Palace; yesterday we went up to Doi Pui and Khun Chankian - so we've been right in the thick of it, so to speak.

Sounds like you've above the smog up on the mountain. Good idea.

[Mapguy]

If you Google "weather modification," you can find a tremendous amount of information about "rain making." I have not been able yet to retrieve an extensively researched article found first in 2007 that reported on the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of such efforts.

In the meantime, I watched one of the planes this afternoon flying out of CNX. I don't think they had any luck. Instead, one of them must have bombed the municipal water works, because the city pumps Santitam haven't been working as they should this afternoon. Really !!!!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

The rainmaking operation will continue until October to ease the haze problem and drought in the northern region, he added.

LOLz. Love this newspaper.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Aight, I'm calling it: The City Hall station is broken.

Getting far too many erratic measurements from it recently. Suggest to use teh Yupparat one in the city.

Overall I see some improvement. This morning my daughter complained about the sun shining in her eyes, meaning there was a remarkable amount of sunlight for the time of the year. And right now I can see the moon and even though it's still fairly low, it doesn't look like it's made of blood.

Things are looking up.

[Awk]

Other than that I'm not sure what prowess you feel the specialist are lacking?

I thought it was pretty clear that I said it was scientific.

Of course. But how and which scientific prowess are lacking? Even though my education is in science, though in a completely different field, I have no idea what scientific prowess it is you feel are lacking at the person in question. I had a faint hope you could contribute something based on your own scientific prowess, which I could hopefully learn from.

Anyway enjoy the beautiful conditions there in CM later this week

Thanks for that, but I left Chiang Mai when the monitoring stations started to show the increasingly bad trends and am not planing on returning until the conditions are back to normal.

[Mestizo]

From what I understand, the burning season of 2007 was one of the worse on record? I only moved here in late 2007, so I missed it. This is my 5th burning season and seems to be the worst I have seen it. Just wondering how this compares to the burning season of 2007. Has anybody done any scientific comparison of the numbers from this year compared to 2007?

Thanks,

-Mestizo

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Has anybody done any scientific comparison of the numbers from this year compared to 2007

Someone has.

Well, not sure how scientific it is, but there's a lot of stuff from 2007:

http://incm.info/dry...comparison.html

Stay tuned for the full data over Feb-April 2007. But the worst days were March 13/14 2007, where the *average* over 24 hours exceeded 300.

2007 Data is here. Note the ups and downs, and note that it ends well before Songkran.

2007.xls

Edited February 27, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Note: The new site at http://aqmthai.servehttp.com/public_report.php allows generating a report in table format over this month. The results seem not as easily copy & pastable as the old site.

Anyway the short version is that the average for February this year (that's almost at an end) was 75.8. In 2007 it was 100.5. So far, 2007 was considerably worse. It still looks like a bad year of course, though March will have the final say on that.

[theoldgit]

This issue has just been on the BBC World News, that'll help the tourist industry.

[Tywais]

Don't go outside, northerners told

Residents of provinces in the North badly hit by smog were warned yesterday against going outdoors.

"Don't go out if you can't see the power pole in your neighbourhood during the day. That's a sign that the amount of small dust particles in the air has reached a dangerous level," said Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, head of the Disease Control Department.

His comment is based on data that power poles are usually 40 metres apart. If one is unable to see nearby power poles, it means the amount of small dust particles or PM10 has soared above 200 micrograms per cubic metres of air.

"That amount is really harmful to health," he said. Safe limits require that the amount of PM10 be no higher than 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

Pornthep said when the air pollution gets that bad, people should stay inside and close the doors/windows of their houses.

He said research conducted in the US had shown that death rates increased to one for every 100,000 people when the PM10 particles reached 210 micrograms. The number of patients with smog-related health problems has soared since serious smog problems hit Lamphun and Phayao.

Pornthep said people should wear masks and glasses if they have to go out amid the smog.

"The smog problem is more serious than last year," he said.

Eight northern provinces have seen the amount of PM10 dust particles soar above safe limits. Chiang Rai has seen the worst.

Pornthep urged village health volunteers to help prevent locals from lighting fires to burn garbage or "clear" farmland.

"More fires will mean worsening smog problems," he said.

Nan public-health chief Dr Pisit Sriprasert said people should not rub their eyes with their hands if they feel eye irritation because of the smog.

"Use wet fabric on your eyes. But if the conditions are serious, please immediately visit doctors," he said.

Pollution Control Department (PCD) director-general Wicharn Simachaya, meanwhile, said forest fires that caused harmful haze in the North were mainly in neighbouring countries.

"It is very difficult to control smog in neighbouring countries," he said, adding that the number of forest-fire hotspots in Thailand had declined over the past week.

To reduce haze caused by forest fires in areas around Thailand, Wicharn said he would attend a meeting with Greater Mekong Subregion countries such as Laos, Burma, Cambodia, and Vietnam to seek a resolution to control trans-boundary haze.

"I hope that these countries will cooperate with us to reduce haze."

He claimed it was very difficult for government officials to prevent people from lighting farms to burn garbage and clear farmland.

"The only thing that we can do now is ask people to give us cooperation from local people to keep their villages free from slashing and burning," he said.

-- The Nation 28 February 2012

[Tywais]

Chiang Rai haze still critical

CHIANG RAI, Feb 28 – The haze situation in the northern province of Chiang Rai, particularly Mae Sai district, remains critical as dust particles in the district on Tuesday registered as the highest level in the region at almost 300 micrograms per cubic metre.

Thailand’s standard of dust particle safety measures 120 micrograms per cubic metre or less.

The smog has covered most of the province causing poor vision, particularly along the Phaholyothin-Chiang Rai Road which forces drivers to turn on their headlights of their vehicles and to drive with more caution.

The authorities in Chiang Rai plan to dispatch workers to spray water into the air to ease the dust particle level, and more measures will be considered to tackle the problem caused by seasonal forest and farmland fires.

The Northern Royal Rainmaking Centre launched its first operation on Monday to make artificial rain to fight haze and drought in the northern provinces.

The haze has put many residents at risk from respiratory ailments.

According to the Chiang Rai public health office, between Jan 1 and Feb 20, 43,316 patients experienced respiratory ailments and were treated at hospitals in the province. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 28 February 2012

[chiangmaiexpat]

This is how the "Umweltbundesamt" in Germany visualises PM10 pollution data. The map shows data from the 26th of Feb. The PM10 concentration in the blue areas is below 20 μg/m³, yellow is < 30 μg/m³, orange is < 40 μg/m³, red is > 50 μg/m³. It really takes out the guess work. I wish we had a similar map for Thailand.

Cheers, CMX

[chiangmaiexpat]

From what I understand, the burning season of 2007 was one of the worse on record?

Yes. Chiang Mai in 2007 was worse than this. It became so unbearable that I flew out with my family in mid March. I can't speak for other locations in the north. It seems that other cities are worse off this year. However, this is just the end of Feb, so things could still get worse. Data from the past years show a consistent pattern with pollution levels always peaking in March.

Has anybody done any scientific comparison of the numbers from this year compared to 2007?

You can find historic data on the old website of the Thai PCD: http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/Default.cfm

Cheers, CMX

[Tywais]

I tried to generate some charts. The first one I generated from raw data from 2007-2010, the 2nd generated from the aqmthai site for 2012.

[Mapguy]

If you Google "weather modification," you can find a tremendous amount of information about "rain making." I have not been able yet to retrieve an extensively researched article found first in 2007 that reported on the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of such efforts.

In the meantime, I watched one of the planes this afternoon flying out of CNX. I don't think they had any luck. Instead, one of them must have bombed the municipal water works, because the city pumps Santitam haven't been working as they should this afternoon. Really !!!!

Found some references I saved. More, perhaps, than you ever wanted to know. Start with the news magazine article. A third reference is here:

Report of the WMO International Workshop on Hydroscopic Seeding Experiment Results, Physical Processed and Research Needs, Mazatian, Mexico, 30 November - 4 December 1999 (TD No. 1006)

In any case, as had been pointed out, if the humidity is below 70%, then you are pissing into the wind.

Rain dance, anyone ?! Go to:

Who’ll Stop the Rain (Begley - Newsweek).pdf

Rainmaking Statement & Recommendations (2005).pdf

[Mapguy]

Taken from the news article posted above:

Pollution Control Department (PCD) director-general Wicharn Simachaya, meanwhile, said forest fires that caused harmful haze in the North were mainly in neighbouring countries.

"It is very difficult to control smog in neighbouring countries," he said, adding that the number of forest-fire hotspots in Thailand had declined over the past week.

Name one instance of enforcing existing laws and regulations regarding air pollution in Thailand. Certainly educational efforts are needed, but they have to go hand in hand with enforcement.

[Mapguy]

And, having seen the FIRMS satellite reports of the past couple of days for the area restricted to Doi Suthep - Pui, there is a HUGE increase in the number of local fires. Yesterday, there were 21 reported. The day before, 14. I've never seen anything like it in five years! Normally, two or three fires at most in daily reports during the "season." Those satellites don't see them all for several reasons: intermittent satellite passes, cloud cover, extent and intensity of fires, and so on.

Yes, Director-General Wicharn, air pollution is regional, BUT...!

Perhaps the Pollution Control Department should be renamed!

This email was generated on 2012-02-28 , 10:00:48 UTC by FIRMS in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) and MODIS Rapid Response. FIRMS will be transitioned to UN FAO under the name "Global Fire Information Management System (GFIMS)". GFIMS will take over from the FIRMS system at a later date. LATITUDE LONGITUDE CONFIDENCE DATE TIME SATELLITE 18.778 98.762 61 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.892 98.675 78 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.894 98.668 67 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.991 98.71 88 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.988 98.692 75 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.993 98.704 91 2012-02-27 06:20 A 19.044 98.773 78 2012-02-27 06:20 A 19.068 98.767 40 2012-02-27 06:20 A 19.065 98.749 51 2012-02-27 06:20 A 19.07 98.759 76 2012-02-27 06:20 A 18.795 98.801 65 2012-02-27 15:45 T 18.856 98.841 59 2012-02-27 15:45 T 18.864 98.774 46 2012-02-27 15:45 T 18.863 98.764 7 2012-02-27 15:45 T 19.119 98.824 70 2012-02-28 04:00 T 19.075 98.751 74 2012-02-28 04:00 T 19.074 98.761 72 2012-02-28 04:00 T 18.877 98.718 60 2012-02-28 04:00 T 18.868 98.717 54 2012-02-28 04:00 T 18.861 98.767 62 2012-02-28 04:00 T 18.724 98.819 64 2012-02-28 04:00 T

If you have any questions or comments, go to the Frequently Asked Questions (http://maps.geog.umd.edu/firms/faq.htm) or contact the FIRMS Team. To query the full active fire database for your area, go to FIRMS Home (http://maps.geog.umd.edu/). Please read the disclaimer below.

Disclaimer: The data in this email are made available by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the University of Maryland and NASA MODIS Rapid Response. The data has not been modified and is as received from MODIS Rapid Response. Data, databases and other information made available through the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) are provided "as is" and users bear all responsibility and liability for their use of data, and for any loss of business or profits, or for any indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of any use of, or inability to use, the data, even if FAO or the University of Maryland were previously advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any other claim by you or any other person. FAO or the University of Maryland make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, including implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability, or with respect to the accuracy of or the absence or the presence or defects or errors in data, databases of other information. The designations employed in the data do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. For more information please go tohttp://maps.geog.umd.edu/firms/disclaimer.htm

[MESmith]

He claimed it was very difficult for government officials to prevent people from lighting farms to burn garbage and clear farmland.

-- The Nation 28 February 2012

Very difficult indeed!! It would involve leaving your air-conditioned offices & actually doing something.

[uinsionn]

Where to buy Proper RESPIRATORS in Chiang Mai - I have found a source.

Hi all, after much research and plodding around I have found where you can buy a real, proper, respirator (those cloth face masks are virtually useless)

Let me warn you - a proper respirator is quite expensive (poss 1200 to 1500 Baht) - you must decide whether it's worth it for you!

Firstly - the place where I bought mine:

Chiang Mai Delta Electrical at 105/4-5 Wualai Rd

(road South opposite gate in middle of South canal, go down about half-way, 100m past big tyre fitting depot, it's on the left. It's got a big blue Philips sign overhead)

Phone: 053 200 750

They are the distributors for 3M products in Chiang Mai. 3M are a large US company, one of the biggest respirator manufacturers worldwide - very good products.

The women in the shop speak pretty good English and are very helpful, but their technical knowledge is not great. (You should expect to spend maybe 30 minutes examining and trying-on various models - give yourself the time!)

My recommendation: Research the 3M product catalogue on their website (Google... 3M ... half-face respirators) the shop have 6000 series and 7000 series half-face respirators plus filters.

The main ones they seem to have at Chiang Mai Delta are the 7000 series and 6000 series - all very good. I ended up buying a 7503 mask plus two cartridges plus two filters. You have to buy three items - mask, cartridges (pair), and inserted filters (pair). This lot cost me about 1500BT. They have a mask with one filter - also pretty good, but just didn't fit me well - for about 900Bt.

My advice - don't count the cost versus your health!! ( it was about 37 Euros for me... and I'll use it at home for sanding etc !!)

Please pass on this advice to friends in Chiang Mai, post it online, spread the word.

I know the shop will be overwhelmed initially, but they seem to have good supplies and can order lots more from HQ in Bangkok.

Maybe someone wants to set up a potentially very profitable business - catering to ex-pats, tourists, health-concious Thai people etc.

Here are the main wholesale suppliers I found online (both in BKK)

3M respirators

3M Ltd.

12th Floor, Tower.

Council, 159 Asoke Rd.

10110.

Tel: 0 2260 8577 to 1302.

Fax 0 2261 7535.

MSA THAILAND

MSA Thailand

19/59 (Unit D4), Moo 10

Phahon Yothin Road

43km Tambon Khlong Nueng

Amphur Khlong Luang

Pathum Thanee 12120

Customer Service

+66 [2] 500 6111

Best Wishes

Vin

[Tywais]

Northern air quality improves after first day of rain-making operation

CHIANG MAI, Feb 28 – The first day of a new round of artificial rain making beginning Monday is helping ease a haze problem in the northern provinces with dust particle levels exceeding the safety standard reported in only three provinces.

The Northern Rain Making Operation Centre met Tuesday, the second day of the cloud-seeding process.

Centre director Song Klinprathum said the relative humidity is not adequate for rain-making now. Its aircraft spread urea to seed clouds and a increase humidity at a height of 9,000 feet.

Monday’s operation reduced the density of dust particles in Chiang Mai to 60 micrograms per cubic metre, measured at Chiang Mai city hall.

Particulate matter in other northern provinces also dropped and the over-safety-standard level of dust particles is reported only in three provinces --Chiang Rai, Phayao and Lampang .

The Pollution Control Department reported that the dust particle level on Tuesday has ranged at 45-278.8 micrograms per cubic metre.

Overall air quality is ranging from moderate to higher levels posing health risks. Despite the dropping level of dust particles, widespread forest fires in Thailand’s North and in neighbouring Laos and Myanmar are a major obstacle to tackling the haze problem.

From Jan 1-Feb 18, nearly 11,600 Mae Hong Son residents sought medical treatment due to haze-related illnesses, including the respiratory system, skin disease and eye irritation, said Dr Paisan Thanyawinichkul, Provincial Public Health Office chief.

Responding to the health problem, the Mae Hong Son Public Health Office delivered 40,000 masks to health centres in seven districts for distribution to residents.

Although a level of the dust particles here reduced to 159.9 microgram/cubic metre on Monday, it still exceeded the safety limit, Dr Paisan explained.

Speaking to journalists after today’s cabinet meeting, deputy government spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed concern over the haze problem in the North. Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon reported to the premier that eight northern provincial governors would meet to integrate their work as well as to coordinate with concerned ministries to sort out problems. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 28 February 2012

[uinsionn]

Following on my advice on where to buy a proper respirator . . here's my political advice/rant:

1. If many tourists start wearing masks (in fact as many as possible... as a protest) . . maybe the authorities will get a little worried about the prospects of losing revenue.

2. If everyone posts warnings on all possible tourist sites . . Thorn Tree, Agoda, etc. etc.. this will put on further political/media pressure on the Thai government to take action. (they may have to upset their farming constituency - it will come down to the health and tourist lobbies versus the farming lobby - a straight fight.

3. One powerful influence, as we have seen lately on terrorism, is the Official Travel Advisory Warnings given out by embassies here in Thailand and foreign ministries abroad. The Thai media and Government are VERY VERY sensitive to negative warnings from embassies. So, can we (concerned farangs) put pressure on our respective Ambassadors, and foreign ministries to issue TRAVEL WARNING ADVISORIES for Northern Thailand - as they SHOULD. So, any suggestions anyone - the main pressure to act on the Ambassadors will be foreing media pressure - letters to our 'home' media that the ambassadors are not looking after the health and safety of potential tourists!! Who can initiate this? Hey, lets all just simply RING our embassies and compain/harass/annoy them into taking action. Lets ask questions of the ambassadors.

Vin

[Mapguy]

Sorry, about the terrible FIRMS chart layout above. I'll try again.

Report Chart 2.28.2012.pdf

[Mapguy]

Where to buy Proper RESPIRATORS in Chiang Mai - I have found a source.

Hi all, after much research and plodding around I have found where you can buy a real, proper, respirator (those cloth face masks are virtually useless)

Let me warn you - a proper respirator is quite expensive (poss 1200 to 1500 Baht) - you must decide whether it's worth it for you!

Firstly - the place where I bought mine:

Chiang Mai Delta Electrical at 105/4-5 Wualai Rd

(road South opposite gate in middle of South canal, go down about half-way, 100m past big tyre fitting depot, it's on the left. It's got a big blue Philips sign overhead)

Phone: 053 200 750

They are the distributors for 3M products in Chiang Mai. 3M are a large US company, one of the biggest respirator manufacturers worldwide - very good products.

The women in the shop speak pretty good English and are very helpful, but their technical knowledge is not great. (You should expect to spend maybe 30 minutes examining and trying-on various models - give yourself the time!)

My recommendation: Research the 3M product catalogue on their website (Google... 3M ... half-face respirators) the shop have 6000 series and 7000 series half-face respirators plus filters.

The main ones they seem to have at Chiang Mai Delta are the 7000 series and 6000 series - all very good. I ended up buying a 7503 mask plus two cartridges plus two filters. You have to buy three items - mask, cartridges (pair), and inserted filters (pair). This lot cost me about 1500BT. They have a mask with one filter - also pretty good, but just didn't fit me well - for about 900Bt.

My advice - don't count the cost versus your health!! ( it was about 37 Euros for me... and I'll use it at home for sanding etc !!)

Please pass on this advice to friends in Chiang Mai, post it online, spread the word.

I know the shop will be overwhelmed initially, but they seem to have good supplies and can order lots more from HQ in Bangkok.

Maybe someone wants to set up a potentially very profitable business - catering to ex-pats, tourists, health-concious Thai people etc.

Here are the main wholesale suppliers I found online (both in BKK)

3M respirators

3M Ltd.

12th Floor, Tower.

Council, 159 Asoke Rd.

10110.

Tel: 0 2260 8577 to 1302.

Fax 0 2261 7535.

MSA THAILAND

MSA Thailand

19/59 (Unit D4), Moo 10

Phahon Yothin Road

43km Tambon Khlong Nueng

Amphur Khlong Luang

Pathum Thanee 12120

Customer Service

+66 [2] 500 6111

Best Wishes

Vin

Helpful!

Have a photo? I visited the store a few years back, and the masks at that time were hand-me-downs from Darth Vader.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I would like to know how difficult these masks are to breathe through.

To be honest the current levels aren't overly alarming. And if it gets really bad then I'd prefer to just leave.

Some masks take a lot of effort to breathe through, so while nice to pose and make a statement, they're not actually very comfortable to use for long periods of time. And besides, you can't drink beer and smoke cigarettes while wearing them.

[Mapguy]

I would like to know how difficult these masks are to breathe through.

To be honest the current levels aren't overly alarming. And if it gets really bad then I'd prefer to just leave.

...And besides, you can't drink beer and smoke cigarettes while wearing them.