According to the State of Global Air 2020 Report, around 32,000 premature deaths in Thailand, back in 2019, have been attributed to air pollution. The report cites the PM2.5 pollution particles as the main culprit as particles in that size range are the most likely to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs.
Exposure to these fine particles can cause short-term health effects, such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. But the long-term effects of being exposed to the particles is much more sinister.
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution particles can affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits and deaths.
Studies also suggest that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be more sensitive to PM2.5 particles.
In Thailand, it’s burning season in the north as farmland and forests blaze with abundance (the annual burning season usually lasts from January to April, before the wet season kicks in). Despite increasing cautions against air pollution affecting short and long-term health of residents, the fires don’t show signs of stopping. The government has even issued a no burning ban, but enforcing the ban has proved to be fruitless as such provinces in northern Thailand consist of vast forest lands.
The government helicopter team can only do so much as they set out to locate hotspots and attempt to extinguish them by dropping buckets of water. But crop burning appears to be the cheapest and fastest way to help farmers clear their lands for a new growing season.
Recently, Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai has ranked the 3rd most polluted city in the world, according to AirVisual, which gives live updates of rankings. Today, Chiang Mai doesn’t appear in the list of the top 10 most air-polluted cities in the world, according to iqair.com
SOURCE: Sky News/Health.ny.gov
Keep in contact with Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following Thaiger.
Toby Andrews
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Another day another ban, however this time it was probably Thais the caused the ban.
Camping equipment can be confiscated?? Why?
They just cannot miss a chance of making money out of a ban, can they?
Perceville Smithers
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 1:29 pm
From what I’ve observed, most Western tourists toss their trash in trash cans/bins while some of the locals just drop it. When I’ve held on to an empty bottle to find a trash can, my Thai friend would take it from me and throw on the side of the street.
CDR
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 2:41 pm
And he’s still your friend ???
Perceville Smithers
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 1:21 am
Yes, she is but I don’t see her as much as I used to.
Boicotthailand
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Thailand is turning North Korea #boicotthailand
Rinky Stingpiece
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 5:19 pm
What tourists?!
Maag
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 8:57 pm
Should start to ban corruption first !
James
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 10:49 pm
This is unusual.
I was in Rayong last year which is a seaside tourist area for mainly Thai weekend tourists, they turn up in pickup-trucks full of people in the front and back of the truck and all you see are such trucks parked along the sea/beachfront for two miles.
They leave garbage, beer bottles, and all sort of rubbish behind, I have seen the few farangs who live in the area pick it up to make the place tidier.
Patong beach in Phuket after a Thai festival is normally strewn with rubbish, there may be some farangs who litter but Thais as I have seen are ten times worse.
Terry
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 11:08 pm
Thai tourist I suspect! but in all modesty… they like to blame someone else…
Mary
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 11:32 pm
Good laugh – what tourists? There are none – so my guess, it should be Thai citizen. And the same for the trash.
Bruno sørensen
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 2:35 am
Tourists oh yes sure it was probably ” dirty farangs” – and who is it throwing all the garbage in thaialnd a country incredible dirty ? it is THAIS – only thais who do that put populare to put the blame on turists – as usuall. . we need to find anotherp lace to go we are not welcomed in Land of Smiles anymore- if we ever was. . .
Jeab
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 6:57 am
No real surprise , i see almost every day Thais cleaning out there cars as they drive along the road at 100 k
Issan John
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 7:16 am
Pretty sad comments all round.
No-one is blaming farangs.
No different to farangs in their own countries, though, Thailand has local tourists and some respect the environment and the area they’re visiting and some abuse it, as similarly some locals do and some don’t.
The idea that all farangs are saints and all Thais sinners is about as stupid as the reverse – some are, and equally obviously, some aren’t.
Sam
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 8:37 am
From my observation Thais are just not trained to be litter smart. I dont blame the people I blame the Government, it’s their role to educate the citizens on these matters and they simply dont do it. It should be taught in the schools but I see the youngest kids being the worst offenders so clearly they are not taught. Motorbike helmets is the same problem, the Police and Government do nothing to educate the citizens so they just ignore the rules. I hope these young protesters can eventually change things and bring these beautiful people the good lives they deserve with proper education
Waverider
Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 10:40 pm
A tourist can be from anywhere in the world.
These just happened to be Thai, very few have any respect for their country side, and expect some to clean up where ever they go.
Ditches get filled with garbage causing blockages and flooding.