Northern Thailand governors told to brace for smog problem during dry season

[trogers]

In our area of Isaan the smoke has been particularly bad this year. This background of smoke that makes the sky grey and makes it uncomfortable to breath as well as makes headaches, seems to give people in the village a reminder to burn even more plastic even more often as well and while they are at it, wouldn't it be great to start up a small charcoal business, the smoke from that matches nicely with all the rest of the smoke. So there are now several people burning wood several times a week which produces an incredibly thick choking cloud. The pu yai ban now reminds people all the time to burn their trash and burn forest growth to keep the village neat and tidy as well. One night last year, the neighbors actually had to flee on motorbike at midnight because you literally could not breathe from a mass charcoal making operation. We had air filtering and so were ok indoors, but outside it was really scary.

The other day however, My wife went to some provincial public health office or something to complain about various clouds of smoke that debilitate us day in and day out this year. I wasn't surprised when she told me they said nothing about doing anything about any of it, but they did mention that many people were coming in and complaining. That surprised me because people I ask and encounter never seem to know what I am talking about, "Oh...smell bad." Telling them about the health consequences doesn't register, zero public awareness.

Much of the problem is that families and shops burn their plastic. If they just had garbage collection for us here as they do in many areas of Thailand that would solve much of the problem here. There is smoke from fires from burning fields, but that eventually clears up, the charcoal and trash burning is year round. Couple that with the noxious pesticides and other agricultural chemicals and country life is much more of a health hazard from pollution than Bangkok for sure. The maddening thing is that the problem could be solved but instead the health ministry wants to bang on about cigarette smoking and alcohol. I would bet people are dying from smoke created by these fires in droves.

You have just zero in on the cause of short average lifespans of Thais, if they did not first die from road accidents...

[Saan]

We drove by a huge burn off a few days ago here in Pattaya. Right on a major highway. Only 1 km from a police station. Nothing was done and the smoke could be seen blowing across a huge populated area. Sad.

And herein lies the root of the problem.

Same with the over-loaded trucks.

Same with the ...

The list is endless.

Logical! There are more farmers than police...

Logically, you don't have to fine everyone. Fine a few and the message gets through - if you keep policing.

[Norvid 1950]

Smog problem? Air pollution? Health problems? Hospitalization expenses? What the problem?

....................................................................No problem.

....................................................................Turn it back into a soil again by composting it. Is it difficult for Thais to figure this out?