Thailand Air Pollution problems
May 28, 2019, 6:13 pm
#48
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Chaing Mai is a popular tourist destination in Thailand.
Loy Krathong, and Yee Peng, are certainly worth experiencing in the north of Thailand. It may be crowded, with both Thais and some foreigners.
Festivities generally stretch over a few days, I think it's 11 -13 November this year, with the full moon on the 13th.
Jan 20, 2020, 5:00 pm
#49
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Air quality in Bangkok, and Chiang Mai is already quite poor.
Maybe consider bringing masks with you.
Regarding water: we're looking at a severe shortage until rainy season (so ~ 3 months), the Bangkok tap water is brackish as the sea-water flows up the Chao Phraya River.
Maybe consider bringing masks with you.
Regarding water: we're looking at a severe shortage until rainy season (so ~ 3 months), the Bangkok tap water is brackish as the sea-water flows up the Chao Phraya River.
Jan 20, 2020, 5:41 pm
#51
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Some/many/most do. RO water sourced locally.RO suppliers are said to be struggling with the supply quality and its effects on their equipment.
As with places like Phuket and Pattaya which run dry, potable water (laundry, showers, etc.) has to be trucked in.
As with places like Phuket and Pattaya which run dry, potable water (laundry, showers, etc.) has to be trucked in.
Jan 20, 2020, 7:10 pm
#52
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Jan 20, 2020, 7:41 pm
#53
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Varies quite a bit by exact location...
Air Pollution in Thailand: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map
Air Pollution in Thailand: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map
Jan 21, 2020, 3:34 am
#56
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But this year it has come surprising early. Previous years it has been in February/March and more or less contained to the north (Chiang Mai etc) and central Thailand with only minor issues in BKK.
Jan 22, 2020, 2:22 am
#57
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Join Date: Sep 1999
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Seeing some government talk about potentially banning private autos. That should go over well.
Schools closed today.
Nearly 300,000 Bangkok school students stay at home today as a measure to reduce air pollution
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/air-...-air-pollution
Govt takes heavy flak for toxic smog response
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-smog-response
Jan 27, 2020, 4:09 pm
#58
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: HSV (formerly AUS)
Programs: AA MM (like it matters!) All of my flying was personal travel, and COVID-19 stopped that.
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Let me put this in my personal perspective.
I have severe chronic asthma. I live in Huntsville AL, which is among the worst places for asthmatics in the US. I am usually in Bangkok twice a year. I generally have LESS trouble in Bangkok than I do in Huntsville. (Admittedly, I do modify my medication regimen while in town, to take into account the significantly higher temperatures and greater physical stress: I walk a LOT more in Bangkok than in Huntsville, because I can.)
I was in Bangkok last year during the worst of it. An asthma exacerbation that had been gradually getting worse and worse, for a few weeks, got bad enough to justify hospitalization. I spent ten days in the hospital, getting it cleared up, which played merry Hob with my plans for the trip. Oh well. On release, the doctor told me, in no uncertain terms, to wear a mask for the PM 2.5 pollution. And I did, most of the time.
Truthfully, I didn't notice much difference between mask and no mask.
This is my experience. Your Mileage May Vary.
I'd suggest spending 20 bucks on a box of dust masks suitable for PM 2.5 if you're going to be in Bangkok, but I would not personally worry that much about it.
I have severe chronic asthma. I live in Huntsville AL, which is among the worst places for asthmatics in the US. I am usually in Bangkok twice a year. I generally have LESS trouble in Bangkok than I do in Huntsville. (Admittedly, I do modify my medication regimen while in town, to take into account the significantly higher temperatures and greater physical stress: I walk a LOT more in Bangkok than in Huntsville, because I can.)
I was in Bangkok last year during the worst of it. An asthma exacerbation that had been gradually getting worse and worse, for a few weeks, got bad enough to justify hospitalization. I spent ten days in the hospital, getting it cleared up, which played merry Hob with my plans for the trip. Oh well. On release, the doctor told me, in no uncertain terms, to wear a mask for the PM 2.5 pollution. And I did, most of the time.
Truthfully, I didn't notice much difference between mask and no mask.
This is my experience. Your Mileage May Vary.
I'd suggest spending 20 bucks on a box of dust masks suitable for PM 2.5 if you're going to be in Bangkok, but I would not personally worry that much about it.
Jan 27, 2020, 4:56 pm
#59
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Air quality in Bangkok is generally worse in Jan, Feb & Mar. Air quality in Chiang Mai/North is worse in Feb, Mar & Apr, or until rainy season begins. Air quality is generally much worse (1X-2X) in the north than in Bangkok.
Everyone in Bangkok is wearing masks now, but not so much for the increasingly poor air quality. Buying masks here? Quite challenging as of today. Definitely bring your own.
The current situation represents a bit of a shift as sugar cane crops, which the government/sugar tycoons have encouraged the growth of, is "harvested". It is faster/easier/cheaper - although the factory price is greatly reduced - to burn the crop to harvest it. Hence this early hit of smoke is a new trend. Other field/forest burning will follow the traditional model, starting soon.
I think one safe PM25 threshold is 50, while the Thai authorities have deemed 100 to be a better threshold for their citizens. (It was 564 in Phrae yesterday, a Nok Air flight couldn't land due to limited visibility.) Older folks, younger children and people with underlying morbidities/respiratory conditions should at least be aware of the risks, and monitor the AQI. There are so many places one can go where the air quality is not an issue, and if you like to walk join a gym or walk in the mall.
Everyone in Bangkok is wearing masks now, but not so much for the increasingly poor air quality. Buying masks here? Quite challenging as of today. Definitely bring your own.
The current situation represents a bit of a shift as sugar cane crops, which the government/sugar tycoons have encouraged the growth of, is "harvested". It is faster/easier/cheaper - although the factory price is greatly reduced - to burn the crop to harvest it. Hence this early hit of smoke is a new trend. Other field/forest burning will follow the traditional model, starting soon.
I think one safe PM25 threshold is 50, while the Thai authorities have deemed 100 to be a better threshold for their citizens. (It was 564 in Phrae yesterday, a Nok Air flight couldn't land due to limited visibility.) Older folks, younger children and people with underlying morbidities/respiratory conditions should at least be aware of the risks, and monitor the AQI. There are so many places one can go where the air quality is not an issue, and if you like to walk join a gym or walk in the mall.
Last edited by transpac; Jan 27, 2020 at 5:32 pm
Feb 1, 2020, 10:53 pm
#60
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Pretty bad again in Bangkok. The "authorities" are telling us its because people are burning too much incense.
Hazy days and Sundays – Bangkok has fifth highest air pollution in the world
Right around the capital this morning, a day of the quietest traffic, and stretching around the central Thailand region and down to Pattaya, the smoke and haze caused by the plantation burn-offs is palpable as people try and find some respite from the poor air quality.
The northern airflows are blowing all the smoke from the field fires lit by farmers back into the city today. The city, already in a mild panic over the Coronavirus cases in Thailand, is short on masks and probably even shorted on patience as the Thai Government continues to put lives at risk by doing little about solving the smog crisis.
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/air-...n/bangkok-haze
Hazy days and Sundays – Bangkok has fifth highest air pollution in the world
Right around the capital this morning, a day of the quietest traffic, and stretching around the central Thailand region and down to Pattaya, the smoke and haze caused by the plantation burn-offs is palpable as people try and find some respite from the poor air quality.
The northern airflows are blowing all the smoke from the field fires lit by farmers back into the city today. The city, already in a mild panic over the Coronavirus cases in Thailand, is short on masks and probably even shorted on patience as the Thai Government continues to put lives at risk by doing little about solving the smog crisis.
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/air-...n/bangkok-haze