Thailand – Doctor says Thailand should match WHO’s pollution standard

Via: Bangkok Post

A doctor providing medical care to haze-affected patients in the North has called for an adjustment to the pollution safety standard.

Dr Chaicharn Pothirat, chief of pulmonary, critical care and allergies at Chiang Mai University’s faculty of medicine, said the current maximum safety level of 120 microgrammes per cubic meter per day for particles less than 10 microns is far higher than that set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In 2005, the WHO set the maximum safety figure at 50 ug per cu/m per day, but it has not been adopted in Thailand.

Dr Chaicharn said prolonged exposure to the hydrocarbons present in haze increases the risk of cancer and damage to the respiratory system.

Dr Chaicharn said doctors in the North had in recent years noticed an increase in non-smokers with lung cancer.

Medical research conducted between 2008 and 2010, based on emergency visits by doctors from the faculty, found incidences of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and long-term lung disease increased in parallel to every 10 ug per cu/m rise.

”With haze, we tend to discuss just the damage to tourism, scenery, visibility, and sore eyes and noses,” said Dr Chaicharn. ”Those impacts are small when compared with the long-term health risks. How many people in the North will die of cancer because of it?”

Dr Chaicharn called on officials to adjust the standard to more accurately reflect the problem. ”We first have to admit the fact that we have a problem, a serious problem,” he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/287932/doctor-says-thailand-should-match-who-pollution-standard

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personal thought:

I believe the two leading Englisgh language papers, the Bangkok Post and the Nation, should post BOTH the Thai ’50 microgrammes per cubic meter per day’,  AND the WHO/US/ EU ’120 microgrammes per cubic meter per day’ in EVERY article/editorial.

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Chiang Mai – Haze problem has improved (bull-sh*t!)

Via: Pattaya Daily News

Chiang Mai Mayor Tatsanai Puranupakorn has ordered his subordinates to spray water in the air, forbid vehicles emitting black smoke to be driven on streets, and apply many other methods to reduce the smoke haze problem. The province has been under smoky air for a couple of days. (how about three-weeks. with another seven-eight weeks to go!) 

With these measures imposed, small dust particles have been reduced. (SEE PHOTO)

The Mayor said Chiang Mai is a valley; therefore, if there is thick haze, it will be very difficult to solve the problem.

Meanwhile, Lampoon province, which has been experiencing smoke problem for a week, has also begun to see a reduction in the dust particles as well. The provincial governor has ordered authorities to strictly prohibit people from burning crops or pollute the air in every way.

Note: EVERY YEAR we hear this bull-sh*t: UNTIL the rains start (mid to late April).

Why then?

Because it’s a real bitch to start a fire in the rain.

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2012/02/21/haze-problem-in-chiang-mai-improved/

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Thailand – Air unsafe in five northern provinces

Via: The Nation

The particles referred to by the department are PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometres) or smaller.

Lampang had the highest reading, at 235.3 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Safe levels of PM10 particles are considered to be 120 micrograms per cubic metre or less.

NOTE: Both the US and the EU consider has set the number at 50, NOT 120! But then again, the US and the EU haven’t had nearly as many Noble laureates as Thailand. (yeah, right)

The four other provinces with seriously high levels of particles were Phrae (218.08 micrograms), Lamphun (192.1 micrograms), Phayao (123.5 micrograms) and Chiang Rai (123.5 micrograms).

“The excessive level of these small dust particles can affect the health of locals,” Chukiat Pongsiriwan said yesterday in his capacity as head of Phrae’s Natural Resources and Environment Office.

The PCD measured levels of small dust particles in the North yesterday as part of its airquality monitoring operations. To tackle the problem, the PCD called on authorities to prevent people from burning garbage, agricultural scraps and dry leaves.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said smoke from the fires could hurt locals’ health. “It affects the heart, blood vessels, respiratory systems, skin and eyes,” he said.

People in smokefilled areas should wear masks to cover their mouth and nose, Paijit said. “If you experience eye irritation or tightness in the chest, please seek medical help.”

NOTE: Most of the masks sold in Thailand are NOT SUFFICIENT to keep out the PM10, but hey you look cool!

Lamphun Governor Surachai Khanarsa said he had declared 287 villages as forestfire control zones to prevent the fires from worsening air quality.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai public health chief Dr Wattana Kanjanakamon said large amounts of smoke in the air in his province had caused the number of patients to increase by 10 per cent this month.

“We have seen a higher incidence of respiratory problems,” he said.

Although the amount of small dust particles was within safe limits in Chiang Mai, the threat was increasing, according to governor ML Panadda Disakul.

“We have prepared necessary measures. If the dust particles reach a critical level, we will ask the Agriculture Ministry to make artificial rain,” Panadda said.

Note: They can  do what they did a couple of years ago, and ban Korean barbeques; and yes, I’m serious.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Air-unsafe-in-five-northern-provinces-30176124.html

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photo:

Several times a year, airports have to turn on their ‘landing lights’ during daylight hours; and somewhat rare, their have been flight cancellations.

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personal thought:

If you have any sort of health condition, such as emphysema or asthma, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you AVOID Nothern Thailand between 15-Feb and 15-Apr.

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Thai Visa (dot) com

I think this is the BEST ‘expat’ source of information for people who:

- LIVE in Thialand

or,

- are considering MOVING to Thailand

or,

- are simply thinking about VISITING Thailand

http://www.thaivisa.com/

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Happy Songkran!

It’s currently RAINING in Chiang Mai!

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Forecast for Tomorrow is ‘Scattered T-storms’.

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Forecast Friday – Mostly Sunny

Yeah well maybe, ’cause that’s what they said about TODAY.

Thailand -more cold weather coming

photo: typical clothing you would see in the Cool Season (mid-November to mid-February); but late March, almost never.

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The mercury in many parts of the country will plunge by three to five degrees Celsius for a few days due to a low-pressure ridge, the Meteorological Department said yesterday.

Greater Bangkok could shiver in 19-degree (66F) weather while even the South might see temperatures drop as low as 22 (72F) degrees.

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Pensiri Trisat, a meteorologist in the North, said thermometers showed just 7.8 (46F) degrees on Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai.

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“The cold snap will likely continue until the end of the month,” she said.

A northern weather bureau said the hot season would return early next month, at about 39-40 (102-104F) degrees.

“It will be scorching then just like any other summer.”

April 17 is expected to be the hottest day of the year, as the sun will be directly overhead.

“But if there are clouds, it’s not going to be that hot,” the bureau said.

REFERENCE:

page 23

Everyone is a critic!

Bankok Post : (dated 18-Mar)

 The abrupt change from more than 30C to 17-19C since Wednesday was caused by an intense high pressure system from China that covered Thailand, said director-general Torsak Wanitkhachorn.

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Mr Torsak said the department ISSUED A FORECAST LAST WEEK warning that COLDER WEATHER WOULD ARRIVE THIS WEEK.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/227271/disaster-not-linked-to-latest-cold-snap

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Got it? Now read the …

Bangkok Post – Letter to the Editor (dated 18-Mar)

“Shivering in this heat!

Thursday’s Bangkok Post promised 37 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature for the city. In reality it was 20C.

The map showed sunshine, but it was raining.

Who is responsible for the newspaper’s weather forecast? The text and map symbols are also contradictory. If in the top right corner the prediction is ”cool with morning fog”, why is the maximum temperature at 37 degrees? The longer text promises ”thunderstorms with gusty wind” but the map shows sunshine!

The Post should either get its weather services from a better forecaster, or at least update the maps to follow the text. No need to have a fixed ”sunny” map for the entire summer season. Perhaps looking out of the window might help!

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/227283/shivering-in-this-heat

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“Weather forecast for tonight: dark” – George Carlin

Chiang Mai – freakish March Weather

The norm – From Travelfish.org

“Daytime temperatures can hit the mid 30s in northern Thailand in March, but what is far more problematic than it just being bloody hot, is the haze. Every year in March Thai farmers burn back the stubble in their fields in preparation for the new planting season. This widespread burning (it happens all over the country but is especially bad in the north and northeast) creates a terrible haze that not only plays havoc with photos, also stings eyes and can cause respiratory problems. This really takes away from the northern Thailand experience and if possible you’re best to avoid this region in March (and April for that matter). That there is very little rain only makes the haze all the worse.”

http://www.travelfish.org/weather/thailand/march

Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit:

http://www.celsius-to-fahrenheit.com/

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ACTUAL:

15-Mar H20 / L17 / Precip yes

16-Mar H19 / L12 / Precip yes

Note: it has rained non-stop for +24 hours

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FORECAST:

17-Mar H19 / L12 / Precip 60%

18-Mar H25 / L16 Precip 20%

19-Mar H29 / L16 / Precip 0%

http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/THXX0003

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 ‘Thailand – Study shows smog up North has worsened’

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/study-shows-smog-up-north-has-worsened/

Note: probably because it’s a ‘real pain in ass to start a fire in the rain’, the air quality is ‘currently’ GREAT!

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GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY, I LOVE THAILAND!!!!!>!!!!!

 

Thailand – Study shows smog up North has worsened

The amount of carcinogenic chemical compounds in the air has been growing in provinces in the North in recent years.

Studies by Chiang Mai University’s Research Institute for Health Sciences reveal that air pollution has got more serious outside city zones

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She said the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter with a diameter not exceeding 10 microns (PM1) has risen by 2.8 times when compared with five years ago.

Findings outside towns had an even higher level of PAHs – up “by about 3.5 times”.

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When the problem was serious, some flights had to be cancelled due to poor visibility and locals’ health suffered, along with tourism.

In Phayao, the amount of PM10 particulate matter has already soared beyond the safe limit of 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/03/09/national/Study-shows-smog-up-North-has-worsened-30150431.html

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Thailand Pollution Control Department (PCD) – for Chiang Mai

http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/QueryAir.cfm?task=findsite

On 18-Mar-2010 the PM10 hit 179.1.

On-14-Mar-2007 the PM10 hit  303.9.

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However to put this in perspective, consider the EU and US sets the PM 10 ‘safe limit’ at 50; and Thailand at 120, truly is,

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IMPORTANT - this is ONLY a problem during the ‘burning season’ – LATE February through mid-April.

And the rains came …

and life is good.

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If you listen very carefully, you can hear the lotus sing with joy, because they know; the farmers can now plant their rice, and feed their families.

As I said, life is good.