Bangkok was once again shrouded in a thick layer of smog today. Not only the Thai capital, but also 57 of the 76 provinces are dealing with dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter. Large parts of the country are struggling with serious air pollution.
Data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), released at 7.00am on Monday morning, showed that air quality in the north, northeast, central region and east of Thailand has deteriorated sharply, with concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) rising to levels considered hazardous to health. Only in the south of Thailand is air pollution still within acceptable limits for the time being.
According to the Thai government, a maximum of 37,5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter over 24 hours is considered a safe limit. In many provinces, this standard is currently being significantly exceeded.
The highest value was measured in Bueng Kan, where the concentration rose to 146,2 micrograms per cubic meter. Other provinces in the north and northeast also showed alarming figures, such as Nong Khai (131,5 µg/m³), Loei (121,3), Nan (118,1) and Phrae (117,6). Furthermore, Mae Hong Son (114,1), Lampang (106,4), Sing Buri (105,4) and Uttaradit (104,2) are among the worst-affected areas. In Bangkok itself, the value was 99,7 micrograms per cubic meter.
Not only Bangkok, but also 42 other provinces exceed the dangerous threshold. In these areas, the PM2.5 values are between 75,4 and 99,4 micrograms per cubic meter. These include well-known provinces such as Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani.
In addition, five provinces reached the orange level, indicating the beginning of health effects. In Amnat Charoen, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Rayong, Si Sa Ket and Yasothon, a concentration between 60,6 and 73,1 micrograms per cubic meter was measured.
In the south of Thailand the situation is much more favourable. In Krabi moderate air pollution was recorded, with a yellow warning and a value of 28,5 micrograms per cubic metre.
Thirteen southern provinces even had good air quality with green values between 15,4 and 23,9 micrograms per cubic meter. This includes Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Trang and Yala.
Authorities are urging residents in the worst-affected areas to take extra precautions, such as avoiding strenuous outdoor physical activity and wearing a face mask if necessary to limit exposure to harmful substances.
Source: Bangkok Post
It remains a shame that the government or police do not take any action against illegal burning of waste, the burning of wood in clay ovens to make charcoal and the burning of roadside verges.
Everyone sees it happening, but the police are busy with ?????
And further information on TV before and during soaps and news about the consequences for people and what the consequences are of burning plastic waste. People in the countryside have no idea what causes all their respiratory diseases.
Perhaps also a task for schools to make the young population wiser.
In Nongkhai it is not exhaust fumes etc but the dust from sand on the street caused by hundreds of trucks driving around Nongkhai with sand and clay from the Mekong River
Bungkaen same story
Are you sitting on the boulevard in the evening with
Thousands of others no problem
And what is the difference with last year?
Every year we read the same concerns. Nothing is done about the cause. Sad to see. In that respect Thailand is an underdeveloped country. Urgent need for a new government that knows how to tackle the problems. They are good at filling their own pockets.
And this while the WHO Air Quality Guideline (AQG) states that annual average PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 5 µg/m³, while average 24-hour exposure should not exceed 15 µg/m³ on more than 3 to 4 days per year.
It is high time that countries advise their citizens to avoid Thailand (and the entire region) during the months of December to May, as this severe air pollution is a health hazard.
Perhaps a sharp decline in tourist numbers/income could motivate them to solve this problem (within the ASEAN framework).
Travel advice is given, but tourists often attach more importance to other matters.
It's always the other one who doesn't do well in general... right?
There is a short video every three days that it is better not to set fire to rice fields.
People talk about how bad it is and then they get in their car or set fire to the garbage because, well, a bit of privacy and saving twenty baht a month is desirable.
I won't even begin to ask whether a person with an IQ of ninety-eight and a half to a hundred and twenty understands 'WHY', let me just say that most of them can put on a good act.
ALL for the money
Quote
Air pollution
In Thailand, be aware of air pollution, especially between December and March. Severe air pollution is a particular risk for people with sensitive airways, pregnant women and children.
Check the air quality level on the World Air Quality Index website (information in English). In case of high fine dust concentration (PM2.5) it is recommended to wear a KN95 face mask.
Source https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reisadvies/thailand
One of the problems we have to deal with ourselves is waste processing. We live in a hamlet of a few hundred people. Everyone has their own burning place on their property and we usually sit in the smoke of someone burning their waste for a few hours a week. Then windows and doors closed!!!
5km from us is a larger town of 10.000 people and they have blue barrels along the road that are emptied daily. Everything is then dumped in 1 place at a mountain nearby.
We collect and separate our waste and have it collected only once a year by a person who deals in plastic, metal etc. a very small part remains and we also burn it on our own property once a month. And indeed we regularly see farmers burning straw on the land around us.
In the meantime I am stuck with a bucket of empty batteries that I have nowhere to put them.. but I don't want to burn them in the garbage or dump them on the mountain. hopefully there will come a time when someone will collect them for recycling.
The problem will continue for a while as long as there is no structural solution. Unfortunately.
Many PTT petrol stations offer the option of offering separated waste.
Not that it helps, because everyone just throws his/her waste somewhere.
Benefits for the employees, who faithfully sort out all the plastic and cans.