Smog in Chiang Mai hits highest level for year

[webfact]

Smog in Chiang Mai hits highest level for year
PATINYA SRISUPAMART,
STANLEY BENNETT
THE NATION

CHIANG MAI: -- CHIANG MAI reported the worst smog this year yesterday morning with tiny particles at 253 micrograms per cubic metre at an air station near Yupparat Wittayalai School, while a City Hall station recorded 247 mg per cu/m.

The amount of tiny dust in the air was double the safety level of 120 mg per cu/m, and some 2,200 residents were reportedly seeking medical treatment for smog-triggered illnesses.

Nakhonping Hospital in Mae Rim district reported 589 patients with respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

However, the smog figures were still below 382.7 mg per cu/m, the highest ever measure, taken on March 14, 2007.

Chiang Mai health office exe-cutive Dr Surasing Wisaruthrat said the air pollution level was |dangerous to people in the pro-vince and nearby areas. He urged people - especially children, |elderly people and pregnant |women - not to stay outdoors |for a long time. But if they have |to go out they should wear a facemask, while those indoors should seal windows and doors and turn |on air conditioners to try to purify the air.

The visibility in general was about 200-500 metres, while Chiang Mai International Airport reported visibility under 300 metres, an informed source reported yesterday.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai Office for Natural Resources and Environment director Jongkhai Worapongsathorn told a press conference yesterday the forest fire fighting operation from February 15 until March 8 had received 457 forest fire complaints and found 3,820 rai of damaged areas - most of which were in Mae Chaem, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Om Koi and Hot districts.

Chiang Mai University (CMU)'s Faculty of Mass Communications dean Jiraporn Witiyasakphan told the media a seminar on smog solutions would be held on March 17 at the CMU Academic Service Centre.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Smog-in-Chiang-Mai-hits-highest-level-for-year-30255759.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-11

[roo860]

Meeting on 'smog solutions' that's a first then!!

[PatOngo]

Smog in Chiang Mai hits highest level for year

Can't for the life of me understand why, why only a few days ago they sent up a plane with 3000

Lts of water to douse the smog???

[Puwa]

If by tiny particles, they mean PM10, it hit 429 yesterday at the Sala Klang monitoring station, the highest I have ever seen here. I don't think the Nation's journalists do a single bit of fact checking, they just regurgitate whatever they're told.

[khwaibah]

Its the screaming pits some 900 km SE in Surin. Just like being in a L.A. smog bank.

[maidee]

i hope TAT informs all tourist agencies around the world to not put the tourists in this predicament ... once you have been there, you will never come back, right ?

[Sparkles]

Totally depressing as the only relief will come from seasonal rain which could be weeks off. I hope this "health hazard" is spread world wide via social media as it may be the only chance of these useless Gov officials actually doing something about it next season but believe it when you see it.

[Lupatria]

I must have missed the year-round complaining of all victims of passive smoking on this matter. Oh I forgot, the smog is created by someone who's making a profit...

[Rogergreybeard]

Let's have another meeting

[wabothai]

I wished all these people in the hospital would sue the government who does little to ensure a safe environment.

[TechnikaIII]

This ongoing problem, year after year, comes down to one thing:

THE ABSENCE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

..... at every level.

[ToddinChonburi]

While hundreds of people running to hospital it is still not the worst. Tell that to those people at the hospital.

[hanno]

My girlfriend is in CM at the moment on business, I am sure glad I did not join her. Photo from her hotel room this morning:

But of course this is not new and I have yet to see any moves made to tackle this annual occurence.

[Longstaff]

Was up North last week taking the folks for a trip to Doi Chaang. Took the scenic route up route 1035 then across the ranges; fires burning everywhere, often along roadsides and no sign of anyone official dashing about trying to stop it. The hot air around these fires is matched only by the apparent hot air in meetings about the issue...It's my first year in Chiang Mai and I've never seen anything like it.

[Tonawatchee]

Begining to look like the sister city of Peking

[Chicken George]

Chiang Rai is suffering just as much. No rain forcast till next month also. Thenonly a splash!

[Godders]

They don't need a seminar. They simply need to enforce air pollution regulations, with big fines for offenders.

[ChiangmaiRob]

Driving along Canal Road yesterday morning, I couldn't even see the mountains to the west of the city. The government will have meeting after meeting, blowing hot air amongst themselves and nothing will get done ... same as happens every year.

[worgeordie]

Its not as though its a one off natural disaster,like an earthquake,volcano, etc,

it happens every year,AND will happen next year and into the future unless,

the Government gets serious about this situation,and uses proactive measures,

every year just talking about the problem,crackdowns ?,thats a laugh.

I wonder how much has been paid out in rewards to people that report fires,

how many people have been brought before the courts and received a large

fine or even a prison sentence?, that would show how serious the Government

is tackling the problem that effects so many people.

regards Worgeordie

[clockman]

As long as anybody can be bought. Nothing will change. But T.A.T. will still be positive about tourism! Another nail in the Thai tourism coffin, And coughing they will be!

[personchester]

The upper northern regions are surrounded by high mountains, as a result the harmful air pollution mixture of smog / fog / etc / are a dangerous human health problem, and the public suffers.

This harmful air pollution can not get quickly out of the region due to the mountains, and it takes over a month for the ending of the air pollution.

Edited March 11, 2015 by personchester

[hugocnx]

These days fines up tp 10,000 baht for drink and drive. If motivation for this is to get those potential killers off the road, then fine them burner killers as well as they are these days a thread to ALL people around them. And the damage they do is obvious by the number of people in hospital now and nature of course.

Sent the BIB out to raid the forests and do really something usefull by catching those burner killers and bring them to court and fine the severely.

No man, it is easier to pick poor motorcyclists from the streets who wear no helmets and fine THEM for a days wages.

[WonnabeBiker]

They don't need a seminar. They simply need to enforce air pollution regulations, with big fines for offenders.

They should come after the land owners. It's not like pyromaniacs burning other people's fields...

It's a lawless society.

Where's the army? If just 1,000 offenders were punished in one province, it would be a change.

Moreover, it's incredibly wasteful as in this climate, composting is the answer and farmers would save on fertilizer as well.

[elgordo38]

Meeting on 'smog solutions' that's a first then!!

TALK TALK TALK TALK TALK TALK TALK AND MORE TALK. ITS ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS. IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE TRYING TO SOUND RESPONSIBLE.

[trainman34014]

Meanwhile on Facebook Thai friends post pictures of it and laugh about it as if it's some kind of annual joke. Shows how seriously worried these folks are about health issues. Still; i've always found when anyone dies here at what we would consider a young age, and i ask the question why they departed and what killed them, i am always told ''It was their time'.

[elgordo38]

Smog in Chiang Mai hits highest level for year

Can't for the life of me understand why, why only a few days ago they sent up a plane with 3000

Lts of water to douse the smog???

Like trying to plug up a hole in the dike with your finger. They need a fleet of water bombers and bomb the sh*t out of the fire starters give em a good dousing.

[Chicog]

People should start posting this on all the TAT websites, twitter feeds and other social media.

Maybe if they lose a bit of face they do something.

[khwaibah]

People should start posting this on all the TAT websites, twitter feeds and other social media.

Maybe if they lose a bit of face they do something.

Report all smog hear. https://www.facebook.com/AmazingThailand?ref=ts

[laobali]

The upper northern regions are surrounded by high mountains, as a result the harmful air pollution mixture of smog / fog / etc / are a dangerous human health problem, and the public suffers.

This harmful air pollution can not get quickly out of the region due to the mountains, and it takes over a month for the ending of the air pollution.

Suggestions:

1. Move the mountains

2. Move the city

3. Learn to live with it – Chiangmainess?

4. Go live somewhere else.

[Sparkles]

Social media can play a big part in getting some action. fb,you tube someone with a video camera could be a big help.

I think embarrassing them is the only option left. Forgetting about foreigners for a minute Thai people deserve better

Is there a Chamber of Commerce in CM ? If so they should be jumping on few heads.Business is hard enough