Smoke, Smog, Dust 2015 Chiang Mai

[vivid]

Good morning,

Chiang Rai Station 57t and 73t improved slightly from the conditions for the past 2 days. Still very bad....

0600h report

24-hr moving average PM10

57t = 335 ug/m3 (last 2 hrs reading 396 and 368 ug/m3)

73t = 280 ug/m3 (last 2 hrs reading 284 and 287 ug/m3)

36t Chiang Mai 24-hr moving average PM2.5 = 145 ug/m3. AQI = 197

[vivid]

Just had a Chinook fly over with bucket swinging behind. We are just se of Sanpatong.

Let's hope the Singaporeans are smarter and dump the water on flames instead of merely increasing the humidity.

From past episodes of Indonesia and SG trying to douse indonesian peat fires, usually what can be done is that the fires are just controlled, ie you dont get a significant effect.

[kanook]

Although the PM10 numbers for this evening are substantially lower than the past couple days, the smog seems just as bad. Am I paranoid for thinking that now that Chiang Mai's air quality has made the headlines, the government is fudging the numbers?

Yes.

Was reading tripadvisor, CM haze....and the farangs were saying things like "pls do be so dramatic, it's not bad at all".

The folks who were saying that it's real bad were getting flamed. My gosh.....

I also read that post and responded. I am not sure how often you have visited Thailand Vivid, but quite a few longterm expats have developed the vile Thai trait of manipulating the truth to save face. Thank you for the fantastic insight you bring to this forum.

[vivid]

Was reading tripadvisor, CM haze....and the farangs were saying things like "pls do be so dramatic, it's not bad at all".

The folks who were saying that it's real bad were getting flamed. My gosh.....

That is because to, probably a considerable amount of people, it is not bad at all. Had I not first read about this problem on thaivisa some years ago, I too would probably have been blissfully ignorant of it. I would, like before I read about it, do hard outdoor exercise in March just as in September. It never had any mentionable short term effect on me. I had no idea it was a problem before, or could even be dangerous. I smell some burn some days, but so what.

The same is probably the case for many other people. Many people will have to actively read up on this to know there might be a problem, as they will not feel it and will think nothing special about it. Same any fog.

Unfortunately, I don't think there is any research indicating that not feeling the problem in the short term will in any way prevent you from suffering in the long term, with various respiratory diseases or even cancer. So, ignorance is not bliss in this case.

Bro, dont mind me dwelling more into this.

Actually the risk of lung cancer is not very high, at least for Indonesian haze as source. I have consulted 2 specialists about it (albeit casually during the consultations), seen a newspaper article on a local lung specialist on the haze here wrt cancer, plus done my own reading up. Still not 100% conclusive, but the risk is really low versus monthly BBQs.

Quick google :

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12071356

There is a mention of a comparison with major EU cities, think it's Berlin or something. This is a very good study on the 1997 Indon haze which was literally a natural disaster here. Folks were getting 1000-4000 ug/m3 PM10, that's not a typo.

http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/se_asia/projects/pahs.html

For cancer, lung cancer for eg, we are looking at a specific components. PAH/Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons is one of them, it's a group of compounds and Benzo(a)pyren or BaP ranks the first.

So the risk is not high. But of course don't take my word as 101% accurate, each and every person or even patient is different. Just that i would not worry too much about that.

Besides, I have not done reading up on NE Thailand's haze composition.

But cardio-pulmonary and isochemic stroke risks are definitely elevated by quite a lot. And you know, people with specific conditions like blood easily clotting due to say high platelet count or elderly with clogged blood vessels have much higher risks. This is based on the levels of PM2.5 concentration, the particles just join the clogging. Have asked 2 specs about this (haematologist and cardiologist).

Adn just a slight increase in PM2.5 concentration heightens the risk considerably.

The below graphs tells you a better story than words alone. Please look at the shape/gradient.

I have posted before, think you might have come across it. Last week, i calculated before that CM had approx 25mg of PM2.5 in a day.

[vivid]

And of course, at the same concentration, the smoke from landfill fires and china smoke/photochemical smog are just way more toxic due to the composition.

[vivid]

I also read that post and responded. I am not sure how often you have visited Thailand Vivid, but quite a few longterm expats have developed the vile Thai trait of manipulating the truth to save face. Thank you for the fantastic insight you bring to this forum.

Seriously, the only place i have been to is BKK, 6 times though... Basically free n easy shopping and quick getaway.

Must visit MHS, CR once in future. Been visiting China.

Edited March 19, 2015 by vivid

[T_Dog]

I got sick from the smoke back in 2007 as I did not stop mountain biking. I thought it would not bother me but the docs luckily set me straight and now I completely stop every smoke season. There are efforts in Europe right now to lower the level of particulates that are a cause for a concern. Austria is considering a standard under 20 micrograms per cubic meter. Here is an article I am sure some will put into the nanny state category, but it is based on solid medical research that certainly applies to Thailand where the particulate levels run ten times what is being considered. The smoke and smog situation is unlikely to change in Thailand so we should at least be aware of its negative health effects.

http://consumer.healthday.com/environmental-health-information-12/environment-health-news-233/briefs-emb-10-12-03-00et-air-pollution-heart-attack-esc-meeting-release-batch-959-680883.html

[vivid]

I got sick from the smoke back in 2007 as I did not stop mountain biking. I thought it would not bother me but the docs luckily set me straight and now I completely stop every smoke season. There are efforts in Europe right now to lower the level of particulates that are a cause for a concern. Austria is considering a standard under 20 micrograms per cubic meter. Here is an article I am sure some will put into the nanny state category, but it is based on solid medical research that certainly applies to Thailand where the particulate levels run ten times what is being considered. The smoke and smog situation is unlikely to change in Thailand so we should at least be aware of its negative health effects.

http://consumer.healthday.com/environmental-health-information-12/environment-health-news-233/briefs-emb-10-12-03-00et-air-pollution-heart-attack-esc-meeting-release-batch-959-680883.html

Haha...its always like that. "It will never happen to me".

PM10 of 20 ug/m3 24hr mean is pretty low though.

And we need to focus more on PM2.5. Actually for cosmopolitan cities it should be PM0.3/PM0.1 to further 'increase the resolution' but i guess at least for monitoring, PM2.5 works fine currently.

[vivid]

All the usual stations i've been mentioning continue to get smoked at quite bad levels....not the worst like past 3 days but somewhere close.

Take care bros, this is exactly what i have been talking about. Continued and sustained high levels of smoke. Give it 2 more days and the effects will be very apparent.

Especially for the Chiang Rai folks. And perhaps Phayao folks.

Edited March 19, 2015 by vivid

[vivid]

70t phayao did not register the typical daily drop in PM10 levels from about 1000h-1100h. 1400h values still showingbsustained levels of about 250 ug/m3.

Other stations no data published since 2hrs ago.

[Mapguy]

Although I appreciate the energy of the hour-by-hour AQI "watch," it is really somewhat of a computer game we seem to be playing

Once you understand that standards for pollution do vary from region to region, it becomes a bit pointless to argue who is or isn't dodgy. Europe, by the way, given the last news bit I noticed, will not meet its awesome AQI targets. Nor will Thailand, which makes some accomodation for what is achievable given present socioeconomic circumstances further confused by political problems.

We hear of health consequences. Attached is one report that is a bit dated. There are others if you wish to keep more up to date. And a bit of humor!

Where IS the governor, by the way?

HOW PM Harms Health (WHO).pdf

Gahan Wilson Cartoon.pdf

[vivid]

Although I appreciate the energy of the hour-by-hour AQI "watch," it is really somewhat of a computer game we seem to be playing

Allow me to share my experiences.

For healthy persons going to the restaurant to get some take-away lunch and fetch the kids from school, hourly updates is probably not so useful but recommended during extremely hazy days as things change fast.

A healthy individual who is going outside to have light or moderate exertion, plus the 1-hr AQI for PM2.5 (estimated with a decent degree of accuracy or directly measured by PCD) is above 300 which is Hazardous, it is useful. It is probably not exact recommended, but if you something that is urgent and you need to get it done like go fetch some water from the well because your tank just ran dry due to the drought and there is no running tap water, then perhaps you just gotta do it as there is no choice.

A healthy individual, lets change it to a pretty fit individual and is going to have HEAVY exertion, and the 1hr PM2.5 AQI is > 300 (Hazardous), it is not recommended. Case in point, our army boys doing route march, cardio fitness level is at least 2.4km run to be completed below 12 mins ie pretty decent cardio fitness. Route march for 4-8km under some 500 ug/m3 PM10 (3-hrs average figure, so it could have spiked a fair bit higher, PM2.5 unknown). Quite a fair number came back feeling sick though not in a disabled state.

24-hr values for healthy individuals is extremely relevant for the current situation. 24-hr values and 1-hr values for Susceptible/Sensitive individuals is crucial.

Susceptible and Sensitive individuals, that I have posted many times already, they should know the drill by now.

[vivid]

Some runners just have to jog, even if the 3-hr PM10 is averaged to be 500 ug/m3.

Singapore 2013 haze. The distance to the leftmost building is some 450m.

Edited March 19, 2015 by vivid

[vivid]

I checked and think nobody has posted this, hence I'm posting it here. Not breaking news though....

They finally reported the highest value hit, 383 ug/m3 PM10, 24-hr mean value. (actually it was 386 ug/m3 PM10 24-hr mean for 57t at 0400h 18th Mar). Nevertheless, technically it's still above the previous record of 382 ug/m3 PM10 24-hr value recorded on 14th Mar 2007.

Credit :

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thai-junta-brings-in-military-to-fight-chiang-rai-haze.html

CHIANG RAI – The Military Junta has ordered authorities to work with neighbouring countries to tackle haze pollution in the northern provinces caused by slash-and-burn farming. Calling on authorities to enforce laws regarding land burning.

The Nation reported that Thai Military mobilised all its resources yesterday to combat the haze crisis in the North, which threatens to be the worst in recent history, with air pollution in some parts of Chiang Rai province already three times beyond safety limits.

The situation has worsened to the point that several military aircraft, including two Chinooks from Singapore, are actively spraying the area with water in a bid to reduce the smog.

The Thai-Myanmar Joint Border Committee will convene a meeting in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district to discuss the smog problem today. The air pollution in this district stood at 280 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre of air yesterday. The particulate matter is less than less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10).

The amount of PM10 per cubic metre of air was also alarmingly high at 383mcg in Chiang Rai’s Muang district between 7am and 9am yesterday.

The amount of PM10 should never exceed 120mcg per cubic metre of air.

Chiang Rai’s disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief Sawang Momdee said “We are now seriously advising people to wear face masks when going outside.”

Thick smog reduced visibility on the road to just 500 metres, though it did not affect flight services to and from the province yesterday. Chiang Rai Airport has installed extra lighting on its runway to improve visibility.

The Pollution Control Department said the situation will worsen today due to overall weather conditions, adding that the amount of PM10 will most likely rise in all eight smog-hit provinces in the North by between 2 and 8 per cent.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said “It’s difficult to persuade locals not to burn off forests and land. Authorities need to enforce laws prohibiting the practice.”

The practice is part of local cultural heritage, he added.

Prayut has ordered the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to lead other ministries in tackling the haze problem.

The Foreign Ministry would be ordered to send a letter to neighbouring countries and request cooperation in dealing with a number of haze pollution hot spots, said Wichien Jungrungruang, chief of the Pollution Control Department.

Singaporean Assistance

Apart from Chiang Rai, the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Phrae and Uttaradit are also struggling with air pollution.

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) spokesman ACM Monthon Satchukorn said yesterday that Singapore Air Force, which is taking part in Cope Tiger 2015 joint military exercises, will deploy its two Chinook helicopters to help Thailand deal with the smog and forest-fire problem. These helicopters will join the several that Thailand’s armed forces have deployed for the mission. By Nattawat Laping, Panya Thiosangwan,Ayuthai Nontirat

Following photo credit to nationmultimedia.com

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/All-out-efforts-to-fight-smog-30256289.html

Edited March 19, 2015 by vivid

[chiang mai]

We drove from CM to CR on Sunday last and spent two nights there (business not pleasure), on Monday we drove to Mae Sai. As we left CM around 9am on Sunday the air quality was dire although it seemed to improve as we started to drive North, much evidence en-route of burning on both sides of the highway and beyond.

About an hour North of CM, air quality deteriorated sharply and seemed to get worse, remaining constantly dire all the way into CR. It was so bad that we stopped at a 7/11 to buy face masks, the first time we've needed to do so in over eleven years. BTW the 20 baht "Dr Mask" jobbies from 7/11 are made in Japan and are effective at reducing symptoms.

We wore our masks for most of the remaining time in CR, even in the Dusit Island Hotel whose air con seemed incapable of making even a small dent in the smoke - trivia, their occupancy rates were 18% on Sunday and 14% on Monday, the only tourists there being a hoard of Americans, no other nationalities obvious. Presumably those poor souls had booked their package holidays many months prior and were unaware of burning season.

Driving up to Mae Sai on Monday was unimaginably even worse, just all round chronically bad air quality and very poor visibility - for the traders of MS it was merely another day to make money and life continued as it always has, blissfully unaware of the consequences of their surroundings. And so it continued until we returned home.

Looking at the NASA fire maps and the wind current maps when we returned, confirmed the picture for me at least. Saturday and Sunday nights are periods of peak burning activity and yes, there's lots of burning taking place on Thai soil. But the sheer density of significant fires in North West Myanmar, combined with wind directions that continually flow from that region and across northern Thailand, confirm with out question that cross border pollution contributes to our polluted air, to what degree remains open for debate. For those flat earth types who haven't yet looked at the wind maps I suggest hitting the animation button and watching the air currents flow over a twenty four hour period.

As has already been stated by other posters, Singapore and Malaysia (and southern Thailand) have suffered repeatedly in the past from burning in Indonesia, so much so that Singapore has been known to declare health emergencies as a result. The concept then of imported pollution should not be so easily dismissed, especially since I read today in the UK press that London is suffering from high levels of polluted air, blown in from Europe.

[TheScribe]

All over the North, the light of truth is being extinguished by the smog of greed, filth and lies.

[chiang mai]

I have a slightly different take on the subject:

The farmers who undertake burning at this time of year don't, for the most part, own mechanical rotovators, all work on the land is done by hand and the ground is extremely hard at this time of the year - often the land to be cleared is on steep hillsides. So for them, burning makes sense, it's not about greed or profit so much as it is about convenience and tradition. The solution lays in part in education but it's a process that's going to take many many years.

[vivid]

About an hour North of CM, air quality deteriorated sharply and seemed to get worse, remaining constantly dire all the way into CR. It was so bad that we stopped at a 7/11 to buy face masks, the first time we've needed to do so in over eleven years. BTW the 20 baht "Dr Mask" jobbies from 7/11 are made in Japan and are effective at reducing symptoms.

Those masks should be pretty ok. Just have to remember to wear and ensure a good fit to your face esp at the sides chin regions..

[khwaibah]

Nice color..

[T_Dog]

We drove from CM to CR on Sunday last and spent two nights there (business not pleasure), on Monday we drove to Mae Sai. As we left CM around 9am on Sunday the air quality was dire although it seemed to improve as we started to drive North, much evidence en-route of burning on both sides of the highway and beyond.

About an hour North of CM, air quality deteriorated sharply and seemed to get worse, remaining constantly dire all the way into CR. It was so bad that we stopped at a 7/11 to buy face masks, the first time we've needed to do so in over eleven years. BTW the 20 baht "Dr Mask" jobbies from 7/11 are made in Japan and are effective at reducing symptoms.

We wore our masks for most of the remaining time in CR, even in the Dusit Island Hotel whose air con seemed incapable of making even a small dent in the smoke - trivia, their occupancy rates were 18% on Sunday and 14% on Monday, the only tourists there being a hoard of Americans, no other nationalities obvious. Presumably those poor souls had booked their package holidays many months prior and were unaware of burning season.

Driving up to Mae Sai on Monday was unimaginably even worse, just all round chronically bad air quality and very poor visibility - for the traders of MS it was merely another day to make money and life continued as it always has, blissfully unaware of the consequences of their surroundings. And so it continued until we returned home.

Looking at the NASA fire maps and the wind current maps when we returned, confirmed the picture for me at least. Saturday and Sunday nights are periods of peak burning activity and yes, there's lots of burning taking place on Thai soil. But the sheer density of significant fires in North West Myanmar, combined with wind directions that continually flow from that region and across northern Thailand, confirm with out question that cross border pollution contributes to our polluted air, to what degree remains open for debate. For those flat earth types who haven't yet looked at the wind maps I suggest hitting the animation button and watching the air currents flow over a twenty four hour period.

As has already been stated by other posters, Singapore and Malaysia (and southern Thailand) have suffered repeatedly in the past from burning in Indonesia, so much so that Singapore has been known to declare health emergencies as a result. The concept then of imported pollution should not be so easily dismissed, especially since I read today in the UK press that London is suffering from high levels of polluted air, blown in from Europe.

Thanks for that summary CM. It could very well be that our early season smoke problem is local, and when the region finally all gets going, particulates do indeed migrate in from other areas. What the contribution is from further away is certainly difficult to determine as you said.

[evenstevens]

i rest my case with today, s bkk/post editorial...please take a look

the myarmar suggestions etc etc are drop in the ocean to the real culprits

and i fully concur with line stating that the smog has worsen over the last 10 yrs,and is beyond control..unless

our lge sala floor over the past week, is a very thin layer of ash, and thats not coming from myarmar

the authorietys have to clean up their own backyard first, then start pionting the finger at other neighbouring countries

but a fat chance of that, as they are making money out of the present situation,fluff the rest

[Mapguy]

I have a slightly different take on the subject:

The farmers who undertake burning at this time of year don't, for the most part, own mechanical rotovators, all work on the land is done by hand and the ground is extremely hard at this time of the year - often the land to be cleared is on steep hillsides. So for them, burning makes sense, it's not about greed or profit so much as it is about convenience and tradition. The solution lays in part in education but it's a process that's going to take many many years.

Yes, and expense is a huge factor especially for the family farmer with small holdings, not just convenience and tradition. In other countries co-ops have been formed and encouraged by government subsidy, and sub-contractors with appropriate equipment make the rounds. Thai government policy has has been twisted around to the point of the last elected regime blatantly buying votes with its program, not that earlier governments didn't let politics impede sound economic policy.

[vivid]

Starting to get some activity here in SG as well. Past 3 days been getting spikes to close to 50 ug/m3. PM10 is v low....20ug/m3 possible.

Source of smoke shd be from a very far away distance. Wonder where its from.

In 2013 Singapore haze due to Riau fires, the PM10 levels were much higher than PM2.5.

Bonus pics : 2014 haze during Singapore F1

Edited March 20, 2015 by vivid

[vivid]

http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/myanmar-asked-help-northern-thailand-haze-crisis

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Myanmar-asked-to-help-in-haze-crisis-30256380.html

Natthawat Laping and Stanley BennettThe Nation/Asia News NetworkFriday, Mar 20, 2015

Thailand seeks Myanmar cooperation to tackle choking haze

THAILAND has asked for Myanmar's co-operation in tackling forest fires in the haze-hit northern region and to inform Thailand of outdoor burning or wildfires in advance so the authorities can build fire buffer zones, a senior officer of the Pha-muang Task Force said yesterday.

Colonel Prapat Popsuwan said the request was made at a meeting yesterday between the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee in Chiang Rai province to discuss the northern haze crisis. Representing Myanmar, Lt-Colonel Tin Min Lat agreed to give the matter special attention as his country was also affected by the haze and many commercial flights had to be cancelled.

Meanwhile, the haze situation in the northern province remained critical, with Chiang Rai yesterday morning reporting fine suspended particulates of less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) at 381 micrograms per cubic metre. According to the Pollution Control Department as of 9am yesterday, Mae Hong Son province reported 236mcg per cubic metre, Phayao reported 228mcg, Lamphun 215mcg, Lampang 186mcg, Nan 181mcg, Tak 158mcg and Phrae 142mcg. In Chiang Mai, the City Hall station reported 166mcg and the Yupparat Witthayalai School station reported 162mcg. The PM10 readings in these provinces were slightly lower later yesterday but were still beyond the safety limit, which requires the PM10 to be under 120mcg per cubic metre.

Chiang Rai also reported a two-fold increase in the number of people having respiratory difficulty; 120 people sought medical treatment for haze-affected illness a day. Two national parks in Chiang Rai - Lam Nam Kok National Park 2 and Doi Luang National Park - were also closed until next month in a bid to prevent wildfires, said park official Boonta Saennang. Park officials yesterday fought a wildfire in Mae Khao Tom forest in Muang district, which had been blazing for three days. It could take a few more days to extinguish the fire, which has already engulfed dozens of rai, because the affected area is in a valley with high cliffs, Boonta said.

This fire, allegedly started by a poacher, was the third wildfire in the area so far this year. The previous fires damaged 100 rai (16 hectares) in Bang Raong Pa Khao and 80 rai at Prong Phra Bat waterfall, he said. Ban Bor Thong village headman Boonpeng Mul-aey said the fire spread from Ban Pa Teung forest in Mae Chan district. He claimed it was not caused by a villager because they were all informed of the ban on outdoor burning and the area's farmers have also decided not to grow corn this year.

[vivid]

Possible that the Myanmar haze found its way to Singapore (Western side)

Malaysia is getting some of it as well.

aqicn is displaying 1-hourly PM2.5 for Singapore

Malaysia is 1-hr PM10 i think.

Edited March 20, 2015 by vivid

[A12341]

I'm not sure what happened with the 36t location on the aqmthai site, but the PM2.5 numbers haven't been posted since 3pm yesterday. I guess we have to rely on the PM10 readings, though they're not as good indicators of air quality/safety...

[T_Dog]

I'm not sure what happened with the 36t location on the aqmthai site, but the PM2.5 numbers haven't been posted since 3pm yesterday. I guess we have to rely on the PM10 readings, though they're not as good indicators of air quality/safety...

Seems to be some odd things happening occasionally on a few reporting sites. Reload the page completely and you should be back in business.

[vivid]

Just gets better over here....

[Berkshire]

Just gets better over here....

Thanks for sharing, Vivid. Guess pristine Singapore has got it worse than us poor mugs in northern Thailand.

[vivid]

Thanks for sharing, Vivid. Guess pristine Singapore has got it worse than us poor mugs in northern Thailand.

Heh heh...the aqicn website is show 1-hr AQI figures. 158 for western SG for the past hr. Same thing goes for Beijing, rest of China....1hr PM2.5 conversion to AQI.

aqicn website gets PM10 24-hr mean figures from PCD, very different from 1-hr readings.

CM got peak of 1hr PM2.5 368ug/m3 or AQI 413, by the same way of calculation. Mae Hong Son possibly upper end of 1-hr PM2.5 estimates of 400+ ug/m3 (based on 1-hr PM10 readings that peaked 560 and 660 ug/m3 on 2 days) or very close to AQI 500 and that's already ultra-conservative, it possibly hit the ceiling of 500 and stayed there as there is no figure above AQI 500 unless you modify the official scale. But this is not exactly official, and health advisories are based on 24-hr mean.

This does not mean that 1-hr is useless. It is more than useful enough to determine if an individual will have an asthma attack and if he/she shd get a neubilizer ready on standby. This could be a matter of life-or-death for some esp in extreme rural areas > 60 mins from the hospital.

Edited March 20, 2015 by vivid