Bangkok air hits ‘code red’ while authorities resist strong measures

[webfact]

Bangkok air hits ‘code red’ while authorities resist strong measures

By THE NATION

 

One of 25 drones released yesterday sprays chemicals over Vachirabenjatas Park in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district to reduce the amount of hazardous PM2.5 dust particles.

 

THE CAPITAL’S air pollution situation became more severe yesterday, as the quantity of dangerous PM2.5 particles rose to code-red status of above 90 micrograms per cubic metre of air at many locations. If the level remains that high for three consecutive days, drastic measures may be implemented, perhaps including a ban on the use of cars by 2 million civil servants.

 

 

Nearly 10 Bangkok areas were at 7.15am yesterday flagged “code red”, which is triggered when particles with diameters sized at or below 2.5 micrometres reach 90 micrograms per cubic metre of air. More than 30 areas were designated “code orange”, which denotes the beginning of negative health effects, a report by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Environment Office’s Air Quality Division said. 

 

The safe limit in Thailand is considered under 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air, whereas the World Health Organisation pegs it at 25 micrograms.

 

 

The red-coded areas include the Thanon Tok intersection in Bang Kho Laem district with the highest level at 101 micrograms; outside Siam University in Phasi Charoen district with 100 micrograms; Mahaisawan intersection in Thon Buri district with 95 micograms; roadside area in Bang Khunthien district with 95 micrograms; roadside area near Bang Phlat District Office with 94 micrograms; and Sanam Luang in Phra Nakhon district with 96 micrograms.The BMA report, available via bangkokairquality.com, provides the capital city’s readings for PM10 and PM2.5 levels over the past 24 hours.

 

Thai workers spray water into the air along the main road in the city in an attempt to ease the effects of bad pollution in Bangkok, Thailand, 22 January 2019.// EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) said in its daily update on the PM2.5 situation that 40 areas of greater Bangkok had yesterday morning reported levels of PM2.5 above what is considered safe. Seven roadside locales (each equipped with an air quality-measuring station) were flagged with the code-red status, the PCD said, while attributing the pollution to the lack of rain and absence of strong winds. The PCD has predicted that there may be less pollution today as stronger winds are expected, though the PM2.5 level would remain within “starting to affect health” level.

 

The related state agencies are so far standing firm following their conclusion at a Monday meeting that “the smog is still not critical enough to declare the capital a pollution-control area, which might affect tourism and the business sector”, as PCD director-general Pralong Damrongthai later told reporters.

 

The agencies were instead recommending other pollution-tackling measures to the prime minister including increasing mobile units to detect vehicles with black exhaust smoke in the inner city; checking the condition of city buses; and intensifying rain-making operations later this week, Pralong said. 

 

 

If the PM2.5 rises beyond 90 micrograms per cubic metre of air for three consecutive days, more intense controls on road traffic and construction sites will be imposed, Pralong said.

 

The measures could include reducing the number of cars on the road, beginning with asking civil servants and state personnel to avoid driving to work. 

 

 

If more intensive measures failed to curb pollution, the city may be announced as a controlled are under the Public Health Act, Pralong said on Monday.

 

More drastic measures are available and could be triggered, such as declaring the capital a “pollution-control area” under Article 9 of the Promotion and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act. However, Pralong said that would be a last resort, as it would yield negative impacts.

 

Despite the gradual approach being taken, Pralong insisted that people’s health is of the highest priority.

 

 

Meanwhile, independent environmental health expert Sonthi Kotchawat said in a recent Facebook post that the government’s gesture on Monday had made him believe that it does not care about people’s health – unlike how governments in developed countries perceived their citizens. He said US and European governments have set an Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) and implement measures to contain the problem before the situation escalated. 

 

If the AQIH reading reached 7 to 9 (having 54 to 70 micrograms of PM2.5 over 24 hours), public members, especially “sensitive receptor” children and the elderly, are advised to reduce outdoor activity and warned of eye irritation and coughing, said Sonthi. The governments also launch measures to tackle the pollution at the source, he said. 

 

If the AQIH reading stands at 10 or above (more than 70 micrograms of PM2.5) people have to wear masks while outside, all outdoor activities stopped and classes suspended, while the government declares a pollution-control area to allow immediate implementation of strict measures, he said.

 

Sonthi said it was imperative that the government took action immediately as many areas in greater Bangkok have 70 to 85 micrograms of PM2.5. The authorities should not wait for PM2.5 levels to exceed 90 micrograms for three consecutive days before they implement more drastic measures, hew warned.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362751

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-23

[Chang_paarp]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

More drastic measures are available and could be triggered, such as declaring the capital a “pollution-control area” under Article 9 of the Promotion and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act. However, Pralong said that would be a last resort, as it would yield negative impacts.

 

however there are more pressing concerns.

 

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

The related state agencies are so far standing firm following their conclusion at a Monday meeting that “the smog is still not critical enough to declare the capital a pollution-control area, which might affect tourism and the business sector”, as PCD director-general Pralong Damrongthai later told reporters.

 

[mok199]

I'm sure any ridiculous solution will somehow involve buying more second hand''military hardware''.

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

while authorities resist strong measures

why is there an underlying belief that 'authorities' are competent ? just hope ?

[cornishcarlos]

20 minutes ago, mok199 said:

I'm sure any ridiculous solution will somehow involve buying more second hand''military hardware''.

 

Yes, I think you've nailed it...

200 new helicopters, flying low to push the smog up and away..

Ah wait, helicopters push air down don't they ?

 

Never mind, 200 new helicopters... Yeah

[monkeycu]

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Yes, I think you've nailed it...

200 new helicopters, flying low to push the smog up and away..

Ah wait, helicopters push air down don't they ?

 

Never mind, 200 new helicopters... Yeah

Fly inverted problem solved

Next problem copter flying upside down has crashed and burned 

[DNPBC0]

Exactly what are the 'chemicals' being sprayed by drones?

[grumbleweed]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The safe limit in Thailand is considered under 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air, whereas the World Health Organisation pegs it at 25 micrograms.

So not only do we have "Thai democracy", we also have "Thai safe limits"

Just increase the safe limit and have done with

[NCC1701A]

this is god's judgement on the fornicators and blasphemers in Bangkok.

 

hell fire is next.

 

anyway, I am jumping on the bus to Bangkok tomorrow. I love it when the girls wear those masks and all you can see is their eyes. 

[NCC1701A]

when i was a kid in 1965 in southern California (the ultimate nanny state) the air was really bad.

 

by 1975 catalytic converters were required on all new cars. everyone hated it but the laws were enforced and many other steps were taken.

 

the air pollution problem was turned around.  

 

as much as I hate nanny states, Thailand is a example to the world of what happens when things are just left to crash and burn. 

[Chippy151]

8 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

when i was a kid in 1965 in southern California (the ultimate nanny state) the air was really bad.

 

by 1975 catalytic converters were required on all new cars. everyone hated it but the laws were enforced and many other steps were taken.

 

the air pollution problem was turned around.  

All they have to do is check out how the smog problem was solved in Los Angeles and other cities and then copy them. They're pretty good at copying here. It should be easy.

But as LA is not in Thailand, the authorities probably know nothing about it.

[Nice Boyd]

18 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

when i was a kid in 1965 in southern California (the ultimate nanny state) the air was really bad.

 

by 1975 catalytic converters were required on all new cars. everyone hated it but the laws were enforced and many other steps were taken.

 

the air pollution problem was turned around.  

 

as much as I hate nanny states, Thailand is a example to the world of what happens when things are just left to crash and burn. 

YOU have not been to Australia, then

[Teacherduck]

Here's an ingenious thought.

Maybe if the highway police got off their arse and banned cars, trucks, buses and m/c's that bellow black smoke into the air, it might just reduce the pollution. 

[NCC1701A]

13 minutes ago, Nice Boyd said:

YOU have not been to Australia, then

yeah i hear it is really bad.

[samsensam]

 

dont understand what all the fuss is about

 

[p414]

3 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Yes, I think you've nailed it...

200 new helicopters, flying low to push the smog up and away..

Ah wait, helicopters push air down don't they ?

 

Never mind, 200 new helicopters... Yeah

No problem  just

fly upside down

 

[Bkkthebest]

May I ask what chemicals are they spraying? As if the air dust particles isn't enough and you need to add toxins to the air as well. 

 

What the hell is the Thai government doing? Are they nuts? 

[hotchilli]

What's really worrying is in the post photo showing people walking in the street wearing masks, not one of the masks shown actually protects the user against PM2.5

 

The masks shown are the cheapest option on the market & used for large particle or fluid splashes only.

They do not require any safety test and are thus not stamped with any regulatory standard.

If you also look closely the variety of mask that has elastic fastenings around each ear (as opposed to around the entire head) actually create an open channel on each side of the face where PM2.5 particles can easily be sucked in!!!

Totally useless.

If Thai officials are failing to address the pollution then they should at least educate the population which masks actually work for protection against PM2.5

[KKr]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

I love it when the girls wear those masks and all you can see is their eyes. 

where wear were "wore only" , wear earware were OK ????

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

this is god's judgement on the fornicators and blasphemers in Bangkok.

 

hell fire is next.

 

anyway, I am jumping on the bus to Bangkok tomorrow. I love it when the girls wear those masks and all you can see is their eyes. 

Hope you get there alive, the roads are more dangerous than the pollution.

If the toxins don't get you the crazy driver will!

[guest879]

they need to raise the safety levels to a more obtainable level. or start using the GT3000 bomb detectors to measure smog levels.

[unamazedloso]

Just had the police out again. My neighbours burn wood to make charcoal and the pm is almost always 200+. Local gov do nothing in fact basically told them they can do whatever they want even though its illegal. My wife just went and soaked there pot with water and the police came out. bkk air sounds like heaven! Police did nothing and my wife will keep doing it because by law you have a right to protect yourself. This pollution is killer and a gov that does nothing is a murderous one.

[VocalNeal]

15 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

and the pm is almost always 200+

 

How do you know? Do you have an air quality measuring device on your roof?

[bubba]

Seriously? Twenty five tiny drones, each carrying what appears to be less than 500 mL of some sort of magic solution is going to help abate PM 2.5 in BKK?

 

Sort of makes me wonder whether the same guy who sold the government those magic bomb detecting dousing rods is behind this one.

[RichardColeman]

Seems like an excellent reason to delay the elections again to me - concern for the health of Thai residents !

[PhilippBKK]

Yearlong exposure to these levels of PM 2.5 pollution amount to the same as 1 pack of cigarettes.

Well, I guess a lot of you got very healthy lifestyles to worry about this stuff......

[VocalNeal]

Yes but but does not garner as much attention for muppets on social media.

[wvavin]

These blokes are totally incompetent & clueless!

[newnative]

No will to make any hard decisions that might be initially unpopular but very beneficial in the long run.   The environmental health expert is right--the government could care less about the populace.   Yes, lets spray some more water in the air; put another band-aid on the gaping wound.

[Ned]

You Bangkok wimps call readings of pm2.5 at levels of 95 serious pollution??!!

Come up north in a month or so if you want the real deal.

200 to 300 levels assured on a daily basis for more than 2 months.

That's pollution! You can feel the PM2.5 nano  particles getting into your bloodstream and it's a real rush.

Who needs a syringe?