Blogs on Teaching and Living in Thailand

During the months of December, January, February and perhaps the first few weeks of March, it is not uncommon to witness Bangkok's skyscrapers shrouded in PM2.5 dust resulting in impacts on people's health. Smog envelops most city landmarks then. It's a sad sight and a very painful situation for most Bangkokians. 

During the winter months, the capital city of Thailand, as well as Chiang Mai and other Thai cities often rank as the third, second, and most polluted cities in the world, with air quality stations detecting dangerously high PM2.5, above 90 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

On some days, the smog is so bad the Thai Ministry of Health advises against outdoor exercise and the need to check the air quality before stepping outdoors. People are encouraged to work from home, keeping windows closed and using air purifiers or plants that can purify the air indoors. Schools are asked to avoid outdoor activities, to prevent adverse health effects on children, particularly the lungs, eyes, heart, and blood vessels.

People living in affected areas should monitor air quality during the winter months using the AirBKK app, and websites such as the AirVisual website or the AQICN website. They should also invest in PM2.5 masks. These masks typically have multiple layers of filtering material, such as activated carbon, electrostatic fibers, and other specialized materials designed to capture particulate matter. They are usually more effective than regular surgical masks or cloth masks in filtering out fine particulate matter from the air.

PM2.5 masks are not foolproof and cannot completely eliminate exposure to air pollution. However, they can significantly reduce the amount of particulate matter inhaled and therefore provide some protection against the negative health effects associated with air pollution.

The reasons air quality drops to dangerous levels during winter in Bangkok are:

- Weather patterns: During the winter season, Bangkok experiences an inversion layer, which is a layer of warm air that traps pollutants close to the ground. This layer prevents pollutants from dispersing, leading to an increase in their concentration in the air, particularly during the dry season (December to February).

- Burning of crop residue: In Thailand, farmers practice crop residue burning to prepare their fields for the next crop. This burning releases a large amount of pollutants into the air, which worsens air quality.

- Industrial pollution: Bangkok is home to many factories and industries that emit a large amount of pollutants into the air. During winter, the inversion layer traps these pollutants close to the ground, leading to a further deterioration of air quality.

- Vehicular emissions: Bangkok is known for its heavy traffic, especially during rush hours. The large number of vehicles on the roads leads to an increase in the emission of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which contribute to poor air quality.

- Dust and construction: Construction activities and road dust also contribute to poor air quality in Bangkok, as they release a large amount of particulate matter into the air.

Here are some of my ideas on the measures that can be taken to combat air pollution in Thailand’s main cities:

- Improving public transportation: Encouraging the use of public transportation like buses, trains, and subways can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which is a major source of air pollution.

- Promoting cleaner fuels: The government can incentivize the use of cleaner fuels like natural gas, ethanol, and biodiesel, which produce less pollution than gasoline and diesel.

- Encouraging energy-efficient buildings: Buildings that are designed to be energy-efficient can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool them, which in turn reduces the amount of pollution generated by power plants.

- Planting trees: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air, so planting more trees in and around urban areas can help improve air quality.

- Enforcing emissions standards: The government can set and enforce strict emissions standards for vehicles and industrial facilities, which can help reduce the amount of pollution they produce.

It's important for everyone to do their part to help improve air quality, whether that means using public transportation, driving less, or making changes to our daily habits to reduce our environmental impact.

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Blog by Prof. Parisien

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Note that the author of the blog is expressing personal thoughts and musings, which do not necessarily reflect those of KruTeacher. Therefore, KruTeacher.com cannot be held responsible for any potential inaccuracies that may be present in the blog.