News Forum - Bangkok grapples with hazardous PM2.5 pollution levels

[Thaiger]

Bangkok and 38 other provinces in Thailand are currently experiencing dangerous levels of PM2.5 pollution, prompting health warnings and recommendations for the public to wear masks at all times when outdoors. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), together with the National Research Council of Thailand, the Pollution Control Department, Kasetsart University, and Chiang … …

The story Bangkok grapples with hazardous PM2.5 pollution levels as seen on Thaiger News.

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[ThaiFoodGuy]

The source remains a mystery to a total of 0 people. Why do authorities go to such lengths to warn city dwellers to all wear PM2.5 masks but do nothing at all to enforce crop burning bans??

[ChrisS]

Same or similar news several times a year every year. NOTHING ever done to try to prevent it and people are surprised the problem does not go away on its own?

[Vigo]

Unfortunately, it is not just agriculture burn. vehicle emissions are a source too. It also includes open pit garbage burning and refusal to control dust emission on worksites.  In Thailand, it is anything goes and the people pay the price with their lives and miserable quality of life. 

If it was just the usual agricultural burning, the entire country would not be one choking dust bowl. The grip of the pollution extends the entire length of the nation.

[ThaiFoodGuy]

5 minutes ago, Vigo said:

Unfortunately, it is not just agriculture burn. vehicle emissions are a source too. It also includes open pit garbage burning and refusal to control dust emission on worksites.  In Thailand, it is anything goes and the people pay the price with their lives and miserable quality of life. 

If it was just the usual agricultural burning, the entire country would not be one choking dust bowl. The grip of the pollution extends the entire length of the nation.

I don't disagree but what's different about this particular time of year? Burning. Emission pollution and construction debris is year round and doesn't change. Every year like clockwork, January to April is "pollution season" and air quality is horrendous, and it just so happens to fall during and briefly following burning season. Government warnings for people to wear a mask or stay inside don't solve the actual problem.

[Khunmark]

8 hours ago, ThaiFoodGuy said:

I don't disagree but what's different about this particular time of year? Burning. Emission pollution and construction debris is year round and doesn't change. Every year like clockwork, January to April is "pollution season" and air quality is horrendous, and it just so happens to fall during and briefly following burning season. Government warnings for people to wear a mask or stay inside don't solve the actual problem.

Except that the current situation in BKK, has very little to with the Thai Government. The high PM 2.5 levels being experienced, are a result of the 3000 plus bushfires burning in Cambodia and the smoke drifting across the border.

[cowslip]

14 hours ago, Vigo said:

Unfortunately, it is not just agriculture burn. vehicle emissions are a source too. It also includes open pit garbage burning and refusal to control dust emission on worksites.  In Thailand, it is anything goes and the people pay the price with their lives and miserable quality of life. 

If it was just the usual agricultural burning, the entire country would not be one choking dust bowl. The grip of the pollution extends the entire length of the nation.

In places like Bkk it is also industrial and vehicle pollution.

A lot depends on the weather.... no wind or cloud will trap the particles.

However at this time of year....when the weather is dry, Thai people have traditionally taken the opportunity to rid themselves of rubbish accumulated over the year by burning it. Domestic fires are ignited all over the country.

Add to this the practice of farmers burning biomass and man made fires in forests you have a perfect storm.

The only respite is if the weather changes

 

[cowslip]

14 hours ago, ThaiFoodGuy said:

Emission pollution and construction debris is year round and doesn't change

Yes it does change...dramatically.... you can't burn in the wet 

Thailand also has a dire record on industrial waste disposal 

[ThaiFoodGuy]

3 hours ago, cowslip said:

Yes it does change...dramatically

Emission pollution changes dramatically when it's raining? 

[cowslip]

35 minutes ago, ThaiFoodGuy said:

Emission pollution changes dramatically when it's raining? 

Whether or not it hangs around depends on the weather - it ca be trapped by cloud or dispersed by wind and rain. THe amount of traffic is pretty constant 0 if th t's what you mean but what happens to the emissions varies.In BKK there is also wind direction which can bring in particles from industrial estates and even crop burning

[ThaiFoodGuy]

3 hours ago, cowslip said:

Whether or not it hangs around depends on the weather - it ca be trapped by cloud or dispersed by wind and rain. THe amount of traffic is pretty constant 0 if th t's what you mean but what happens to the emissions varies.In BKK there is also wind direction which can bring in particles from industrial estates and even crop burning

I know, I was just being facetious. Carry on!