Smog temporarily eases in North but drought spreads wider

[webfact]

Smog temporarily eases in North but drought spreads wider



BANGKOK: -- As drought situation continues to spread wider throughout the country, smog in the North has eased temporarily.

Overall the smog situation along the border regions in the upper northern provinces of Thailand especially in Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai province remains a concern with particulate counts still exceeding recommended safety levels.

Readings still show 298 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10 this morning in some border areas, and residents still need to wear hygienic facemasks and protective eyewear.

The situation is the same in other provinces such as Mae Hong Son, Phrae and Nan where high particulate counts is predominant.

As a whole, the situation seems to be improving as smog levels have been reduced.

Meanwhile as drought continued to expand wider, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has taken the initiative to call on 100 departments and businesses to join in a campaign to reduce water consumption by 30% within May of this year.

The effort is aimed at alleviating to some degree the national water shortage crisis.

As of today, many parties approached have stated that have agreed to join the campaign.

In the Northeast, farmers in Yasothorn province are suffering badly from the drought as water shortage combined with high temperatures have impeded the plants’ growth, especially watermelons.

Local officials have ordered two artesian wells to be dug to supplement water supplies to farmers.

But strict rationing is also being enforced to ensure that every farm and household receives its share of water.

In the South, almost 300 residents at the Bulan Island in La-ngu district of Satun have been denied water for consumption as a result of the severe drought.

The main sources of water supply have completely dried up and many here have been reduced to using sea water to bath and wash.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/156372


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-23

[DNPBC0]

The focus should on the smaller PM2.5 particulates which are a far greater risk to health than PM10 and travel further distances from their source. There should also be much more detailed advice about facemasks. The standard surgical masks which many seem to use are not designed to act as a barrier to inhaled particulates and seem to provide very poor protection against smaller size particles. An additional problem is that there needs to be a tight fit around the edge of the mask. N95 masks are much better:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/PersonalProtectiveEquipment/ucm055977.htm

These are not only able to provide a tight fit but they seem to be about 95% effective in screening out PM2.5:
https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/Current_Issues/2014/haze/faq--use-of-masks-and-availability-of-masks.html

[worgeordie]

Well not where I am,Doi Suthep is still behind a thick haze,the Wife is

having difficulty breathing,the water has just gone off,and the Internet

is crap at the moment,Thailand is slowly/quickly going down the tubes.

The Government said they were going to tackle the pollution problem,

like they have said for many years,but nothing happens,they promised

there would be no water shortage,can i blame them for the Internet,only

if they have put the one gateway into effect already.

regards Worgeordie

[Ulic]

Well not where I am,Doi Suthep is still behind a thick haze,the Wife is

having difficulty breathing,the water has just gone off,and the Internet

is crap at the moment,Thailand is slowly/quickly going down the tubes.

The Government said they were going to tackle the pollution problem,

like they have said for many years,but nothing happens,they promised

there would be no water shortage,can i blame them for the Internet,only

if they have put the one gateway into effect already.

regards Worgeordie

No doubt the Thai government will put the same effort into stopping the burning as

the Indonesian government. As with most things everyone else should stop

(corruption, drinking and driving, crop burning, water wastage, etc....) and

if it is just me doing it, it's no big deal.

[dcnx]

Follow the US consulate in Chiang Mai on Facebook for the true pollution numbers. It is still VERY dangerous out there.