The municipality of Bangkok wants to combat particulate matter with a 4-meter high purification tower
In Bangkok, the PM 2,5 fine dust particles are again above the safety limit of 50 that Thailand uses (the WHO uses a limit value of 25). At 8 o'clock yesterday morning, the highest level of PM 2,5 was measured in Ban Phlat. It amounted to 81 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Prime Minister Prayut promises to build more public transport connections for commuters in the capital. The Prime Minister comments on the success of the Blue Line extension from Hua Lamphong to Lak Song. During the 2-month trial, during which the ticket was free, 2,5 million people used the new route.
The Thai Ministry of Health will open special clinics in the smog-affected areas. Ministry spokesman Sukhum announced this yesterday following the ongoing problems with heavily polluted air in the north of Thailand.
Air quality in Chiang Mai worst in the world!
In the top ten cities with the highest air pollution, Chiang Mai ranks first and Bangkok eighth. The problem in Chiang Mai is the forest fires and the burning of harvest residues by farmers.
It is unhealthy to breathe air in seven northern provinces of Thailand. Authorities are concerned about air pollution. The hardest hit are two districts in Chiang Mai and Lampang.
Emergency measures needed in Bangkok as smog worsens again
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the City of Bangkok (BMA) are considering measures as smog in the capital only worsened yesterday. For example, they are considering designating Bangkok as a pollution control zone.
Nine out of ten people on our planet breathe polluted air. It is estimated that seven million people die every year. In Southeast Asia, there are two million. The World Health Organization WHO reports this on the basis of new figures.
'Municipality of Bangkok and government cheat with safety margins for particulate matter'
An editorial in the Bangkok Post shows that there is quite a bit of juggling with the figures about particulate matter in Bangkok. The level of PM 2,5 varies from 70 to 100 micrograms per cubic meter, the newspaper says.
How long until particulate matter reaches everyone?
In the Thai and international media, it seems that only Bangkok has to deal with life-threatening smog. The government only calls not to panic, but does not get much further than water cannons and airplanes. A matter of porridge and keeping wet.
Construction of subway lines in Bangkok halted due to smog
To do something about the smog, the government has decided to suspend the construction of metro lines until Tuesday. Contractors have been instructed to clean the construction site and nearby roads. The tires of trucks must be sprayed clean.
Big alarm for smog in Bangkok
The smog and associated particulate matter in the east of Bangkok is so persistent that the government is now pulling out all the stops. Two planes will try to generate artificial rain over the worst-hit city district today and will continue to do so until Friday.
The concentrations of particulate matter in the Thai capital have been at a dangerous level for several days now. Residents were advised to stay indoors or wear masks when going outside.
There is much to do in Chiangmai about a complaint that the governor of Chiangmai has made against a publication by the editor-in-chief of the magazine Chiangmai Citylife, the British-Thai Pim Kemasingki.
The UN Environment Program wants the governments of Asian countries to take stronger action against the burning of crop residues and agricultural waste. In addition, farmers in Asia are setting fire to forests in order to gain more agricultural land for palm oil plantations.
To emphasize the seriousness of the health hazards, the air pollution in Bangkok with ultra-fine particles should be seen as a 'national disaster'. Supat Wangwongwattana, an environmental lecturer at Thammasat University and former head of the Pollution Control Department, issued this warning yesterday.
Living in a big city like Bangkok is probably even less healthy than you already knew. A recent study shows that epigenetic changes (changes in the DNA) can already be observed in the blood if a person is exposed to exhaust fumes for two hours. These changes are associated with various diseases.
AirVisual provides insight into air pollution
Anyone interested in the quality of the air one breathes should definitely visit the AirVisual website. In addition to a handy free app that shows air pollution in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, for example, the graphical representation of air quality on earth: www.airvisual.com/earth is particularly impressive and interesting.