Forest fire haze covers several Thai provinces in South, but health officials say level is 'safe'

[webfact]

Forest fire haze covers several provinces in South, but health officials say level is 'safe'
The Nation



SONGKHLA: -- HAZE from forest fires in Sumatra is blanketing several provinces in the South, but air pollution levels are still under the safety limit, according to the 16th Regional Environment Office in Songkhla.

Halem Chemarikan, director of the office, said Hat Yai was hardest hit yesterday with particulate matter in the air measured at 108 micrograms per cubic metre, down from 136 at 8pm on Saturday, and below the 120 micrograms safety limit.

Surat Thani, Phuket, Narathiwat, Yala and Satun were also covered with haze, but at an average level of 80 micrograms.

Halem said the haze situation was being closely |monitored by his office.

Children and the elderly with respiratory problems should wear a mask and refrain from going outdoors, he said.

Yala public health chief Dr Utissak Haritrattanakul said the haze could cause eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. "Please prepare medicines and necessary equipment if you have any underlying diseases. Also visit doctors if they develop any symptom," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Forest-fire-haze-covers-several-provinces-in-South-30270191.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-05

[Oziex1]

Level is safe, they then describe safety measures to take.

[optad]

It is disgraceful that the Indonesians are still getting away with this shit.

[louse1953]

It is disgraceful that the Indonesians are still getting away with this shit.

Not just the Indo's,wait to March up north.

[lifeincnx]

Let's see how the Thai mega corporations handle the burning off of corn crops, used for animal feed, this coming March and April here in the North. Last year was one of the worst and this is rapidly surpassing the rice crop and hill tribe forest burn offs.

[fxe1200]

Check the air pollution at your place:

http://aqicn.org/city/all/

[springheeled jack]

the haze level may be safe, in what respect ? inhaling this is not particularly good for ones health whether you suffer from bronchial problems or not this haze is a health problem for everyone.

[Sam Jones]

Its safe but dont go out doors, children ...

[connda]

The new paradigm: During the Hot Season, head to the oceans (South); during the Rainy Season, head for the hills (North).

[tigermonkey]

Check the air pollution at your place:

http://aqicn.org/city/all/

Thanks for that link. This will show you some of the numbers for air quality in many places. Thailand and Indonesia are two of the only countries worldwide that measure only PM10 which is the larger visible particles, such as you see in smoke. This is hazardous to your health in that these size of particles plug up your lungs and destroy their capacity to to clean themselves, as well as destroying the functions of O2 intake and CO2 dumping. Most counties specity a hazard level of 50 to 75 for these particles, while Thailand is content with a level of 120, same as China. No level is safe and can be fatal over extended periods.

Far more important is the PM2.5 reading which contains those smaller particles which chemically destroy your lung tissues, and in many cases can pass straight into your bloodstream. These are the killers but Thailand and Indonesia do not monitor them. The hazard level for these is usually set at 25-35..

Some readings today:

Hat Yai declared SAFE -- PM10 108 ( from the OP)

Singapore declared UNSAFE -- PM10 77 PM2.5 186

Kuala Lampur declared UNSAFE -- PM10 48 PM2.5 112

One wonders what the PM2.5 reading would be for Hai Yai - I sincerely doubt that it is safe !

[williet98248]

I see people riding motorbikes wearing a face mask... and no helmet. I wonder what is more likely; a respiratory problem or death or head injury from traffic accident? Seems a conundrum that people will wear a face mask but not a helmet.