Thailand Air Quality and Pollution Alerts

[Nereus]

And it has not improved very much: 9-00pm
Bangkok
180US AQI
PM2.5 | 111.6 µg/m³
Provided by 30 contributors

Most of it is smoke from fires, it is not the normal colour of exhaust smog. What very little wind there is, is coming from the east, so why isn't it being mentioned?

[Nereus]

Polluting vehicles face impoundment, extra checks

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... tra-checks

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday warned on his Facebook page warning that vehicles with exhaust emissions that exceed safe limits will be black-listed and banned from the road amid concern over the sharp rise in PM2.5 dust levels across the capital.

The premier wrote that these polluting vehicles not only face being impounded but also being required to pass undergo more rigorous inspections before being allowed back on the roads.

He also urged people to report the licence plates of vehicles that emit particularly thick exhaust fumes. (how about the ones being paid to monitor / control traffic get out of their air con cars and control booths and do their job)

According to recent data from the Pollution Control Department (PCD), PM2.5 levels in 43 of the capital's 50 districts were unsafe yesterday morning.

However, the area of the country with the highest PM2.5 levels was Samut Sakhon province.

The worst pollution was recorded in tambon Mahachai of Muang district in Samut Sakhon at 109 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³). The domestic so-called safe threshold is 50 µg/m³.

In Bangkok, the level of PM2.5 particulate matter also rose above 90 µg/m³ in Bang Kho Laem, Phra Nakhon, Bang Khunthian districts. In Phasi Charoen district, PM2.5 levels on Phetkasem Road hit 101 µg/m³.

Meanwhile, the PCD reported that PM2.5 levels in nine provinces in the North ranged from 29-87 µg/m³ as of noon yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told media yesterday that the government will provide masks for people suffering because of the unhealthy air.

PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, about 3% that of a human hair. Such matter can lodge in people's lungs and enter blood vessels, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

[Nereus]

Airport:
215US AQI
PM2.5 | 164.5 µg/m³
Provided by Happy & Healthy Bike Lane
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Bangkok:
132US AQI
PM2.5 | 48.1 µg/m³
Provided by 30 contributors
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hua Hin:
120US AQI
PM2.5 | 43.4 µg/m³
Provided by Sansiri

[hhinner]

Windy.com shows the pollution blob over Bangkok nicely, and how its fringes extend to Hua Hin. You can turn on air quality in the menu and add further choices using the more option. So, you can see PM 2.5, NO2, dust, SO2, etc. Turning on the active fires option you can see that Cambodia is almost completely on fire.

[Nereus]

Thick smog in the North, bad air in Bangkok

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... in-bangkok

Thick, unhealthy smog continues to plague much of the North, with the worst pollution in Lampang province, and Bangkok residents were afflicted by unsafe fine-dust levels in eight districts on Tuesday.

The Pollution Control Dept on Tuesday reported unsafe levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) at 11 of the 15 air quality measurement stations it operates in the North.

They are in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai; Muang district of Chiang Mai; Muang and Mae Mo districts of Lampang; Muang district of Lamphun; Muang district of Phrae; and Muang district of Phayao.

PM2.5 levels there exceeded the set safe threshold of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre of air over the past 24 hours in the 24 hours to 9am. The worst PM2.5 pollution, 89mcg, was reported in tambon Phra Bat of Muang district in Lampang, followed by 75mcg in tambon Chang Phueak of Muang district in Chiang Mai.

In other provinces, the department reported unsafe smog levels in tambon Nai Muang of Muang district in Nakhon Ratchasima province; tambon Na Phra Lan of Chalerm Prakiat district and tambon Pak Phriaw of Muang district in Saraburi; and tambon Sanam Chai of Muang district in Suphan Buri.

In the capital city, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported unsafe PM2.5 levels in eight districts -- Klong San, Bang Khlaem, Wang Thonglang, Phra Nakhon, Klong Toey, Laksi, Bang Khen and Bung Kum. The capital's most polluted air was measured at 58mcg in Bang Khen.

hick smog again shrouds Muang district of Lampang on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Assawin Wongnorkaew)

c1_1835549.jpg (71.5 KiB) Viewed 4773 times

[caller]

I read, but can't quote, that Prawit, when asked what action the Government were taking about the current problems, that he replied, 'what can we do'.

[Nereus]

I read, but can't quote, that Prawit, when asked what action the Government were taking about the current problems, that he replied, 'what can we do'.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... er-no-more

As Bangkok comes under the cover of fine-dust pollution once more, the government has been relatively silent about the problem. When asked about the deteriorating air quality, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon said the government has given away some masks. When pressed whether that is enough to tackle the problem, he retorted, "What more can I do?"

[Nereus]

Residents troubled by black ash from burning sugarcane

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/re ... e#cxrecs_s

PHITSANULOK: Villagers in Wang Thong and Bang Krathum districts have complained that black soot and ash from burning sugarcane fields is raining down on their houses and everywhere else on a daily basis, making life miserable.

One resident of Ban Noen Sa-at in Bang Krathum district of this lower northern province said burning-off by farmers has been non-stop recently. It was now time for them to harvest their cane in a rush to supply it to millers.

The practice is illegal, but farmers argue that burning off the leaves makes it easier to harvest the valuable sugar-rich stems for delivery to factories.

The burning is usually done at night to avoid being caught by authorities, but sometimes during the day as well.
The fires send black soot and ash high into the air, which fall on residential areas nearby.

Residents complain they have to clean the muck out of their houses and off the roads every day, and sometimes several times a day.

Angry householders said owners of the sugar mills should be held responsible for the damage and health hazards caused by burning-off, and the mess resulting from the soot and ash.

A tractor hauls harvested sugarcane on a road between Bang Krathum and Wang Thong districts in Phitsanulok on Sunday, with smoke from a burning field in the background. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)

c1_1835494_620x413.jpg (40.94 KiB) Viewed 4711 times

Ah, looks to me like most of that smoke is coming from the tractor!

[bigston]

I purchased one of these Air quality Detectors on Ebay here in Aus for the primary reason to monitor the air quality when we move to Pranburi soon
little did i know how useful it would be, here, with the unprecedented fires eastern Aus has and is still experiencing
with PM 2.5 readings of in excess of 700 and AQI readings of over 1000 , the best, or should i say worst here at home was 1107
the device is pretty accurate as ive done next to instant comparisons with the local monitoring station.
For a minimal outlay, you would have a very handy air quality monitor,
with multiple option on screen readings
and im sure, ive seen it on numerous platforms to buy it from as its marketed under heaps of names.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/133207329908

[Big Boy]

There has been a marked improvement in Hua Hin over the last 2 days. I was at Black Mountain yesterday, and the surrounding hill were very sharp to look at. Also, looking out from my front door, we can see things clearly across the field in front of us.

[Nereus]

There has been a marked improvement in Hua Hin over the last 2 days. I was at Black Mountain yesterday, and the surrounding hill were very sharp to look at. Also, looking out from my front door, we can see things clearly across the field in front of us.

Most of the reason for that is the prevailing wind has been more from the east and south east across the gulf, rather than the north east blowing the crap from Bangkok and in between towards Hua Hin.

[laphanphon]

I went with this one, and works very good, forget what vendor used:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-8Inch-Car-PM ... SwZp5d3IAv

[PeteC]

Smog persists in Bangkok

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... in-bangkok

Unhealthy smog continues to plague Bangkok, with PM 2.5 dust exceeding safe levels at 10 monitoring stations in the capital on Friday morning, the Pollution Control Department reported.

The PCD said levels of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5) in the air were mesured at 28-55 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the government-set safety standard of 50mcg/cm, in 10 areas of Bangkok and its vicinity.

The 10 affected areas were: Din Daeng Road in Din Daeng district, Khlong Kum area in Bung Kum district; Soi Lat Phrao 94 off Lat Phrao Road in Wang Thong Lang district, Rama 3-Charoen Krung Road in Bang Kho Laem district, Navamin Road at Bang Kapi intersection in Bang Kabi district, Lat Krabang Road in Lat Krabang distrct, Charoen Nakhon Road in Klong San district, Sam Sen Road in Phra Nakhon district, Klong Toey area of Klong Toey district and Thung Song Hong area of Laksi district.

The PCD advised people to avoid outdoor activities if possible and keep abreast of air quality announcements.

[Lev]

We have added a Hua Hin air quality widget to the forum, it is just below the currencies in the right column.

Please refresh your browser (F5) to see it of you don't already.

[PeteC]

I find that if you click the widget it takes you to a more detailed page.