pollution
- Thailand News
Smog shock: Chiang Mai claims ‘top’ spot in global pollution woes
Chiang Mai today topped the smog charts as the world’s most polluted city. The northern region of Thailand continues to be ensnared by a thick smog, causing serious health concerns for residents and visitors. The monitoring website IQAir highlighted Chiang Mai as the city with the worst air pollution levels at 9.20am. The fine dust levels were recorded at an…
- Thailand News
Acidic anxiety: Lorry leak near Mekong raises contamination fears
A lorry incident in Laos, which resulted in a sulphuric acid leak into a tributary of the Mekong River, has sparked concerns about potential water contamination along the Thailand-Laos border. However, the water quality in this stretch of the river was deemed safe yesterday, April 8, with continuous monitoring set to persist until the end of the week. Somsak Thepsutin,…
- Thailand News
Bangkok Port relocation set to combat pollution and congestion
The Bangkok Port, a 32-rai facility located next to the Chao Phraya River in the Klong Toey district, is slated for relocation as per government orders. The decision aims to repurpose the area for public advantage. The directive was communicated through a letter issued by Thawatchai Chanpaisansil, adviser to the Cabinet Secretariat, on April 4 to the Ministry of Transport,…
- Thailand News
Northern Thailand grapples with severe global air contamination
The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) disclosed today, April 4, at 8am that 14 provinces were grappling with red (highly detrimental) levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and…
- Thailand News
Video footage shows sewage spill on Jomtien Beach
Authorities sprang into action after a video showing sewage gushing into the sea at Soi 8, Jomtien Beach surfaced on Wednesday. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet hailed the quick response, revealing yesterday that the once-polluted waters had returned to their pristine state, much to the delight of beach enthusiasts. Mayor Poramet lauded the swift reaction to the crisis, highlighting Pattaya City officials’…
- Thailand News
Pollution plagues Pattaya’s Na Kluea Canal
Pattaya City is under scrutiny as officials launch an investigation into the polluted waters of the Na Kluea Canal, following complaints from residents. Reports flooded in, accompanied by damning video evidence, revealing a grim reality of garbage-strewn waters and lifeless fish floating on the surface. Allegations point fingers at industrial estates in the vicinity, accused of negligently allowing toxic substances…
- Thailand News
Bamboo barges battle plastic pollution in Bangkok
To tackle Thailand’s plastic pollution crisis, a pioneering project has been launched on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Black flies scattered as plastic waste cascaded from bamboo conveyor belts onto solar-powered barges, marking a significant step towards cleaner waters. Dubbed the “interceptor,” this innovative boat-like structure, trailing a floating barrier, utilises the river’s currents to guide plastic debris into…
- Health
The best masks to shield you from PM2.5
When it comes to safeguarding your lungs from the fine particulates in wildfire smoke or other pollutants like PM2.5, choosing the right mask is crucial. Not all masks are created equal, and for the best protection, you need to know which ones stand out from the rest. What are the side effects of air pollution on overall health? Rising levels…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai hits highest air pollution levels in Thailand
Air pollution has reached critical levels in the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand, with 36 provinces reporting particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations exceeding the safe standard, according to a recent report from the Air Pollution Control Department (APCD) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The province of Chiang Rai recorded the highest levels in the country. Over the…
- Health
Thailand’s revolutionary fight against air pollution
In Thailand, the battle against air pollution is taking a high-tech turn, thanks to innovative solutions like Bosch’s air quality monitoring box. With air pollution posing significant health and environmental risks, it’s reassuring to see technology offering cleaner air solutions. This innovation is not just a beacon of hope but a testament to Thailand’s commitment to improving life quality. Current…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone.…
- Thailand News
Pollution turns Nonthaburi canal water pink
Reports revealed strange pink canal water in Nonthaburi on Valentine’s Day last week as scientists scrambled to uncover the truth behind the sudden rosy hue. Experts from the Department of Science Service (DSS) embarked on an investigation uncovering startling findings that could change the way we see pollution. The case, discovered in Khlong Bang Phraek near the Big C department store…
- Thailand News
Hua Hin Hospital issues urgent warning as air quality worsens
Hua Hin Hospital issued a warning over the deteriorating air quality gripping the district. Hua Hin Hospital’s Facebook announcement revealed alarming statistics regarding the current air pollution levels plaguing the area. The Air Quality Index (AQI) skyrocketed to a staggering 196 by 8am, nearly doubling the safety threshold. Health experts stress that AQI values above 100 pose severe health risks.…
- Thailand News
Bangkok battles severe PM2.5 pollution, health warnings issued
Bangkok and several provinces across Thailand are currently grappling with dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter, exceeding standard pollution values and posing a significant health risk. Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district recorded the highest levels, urging the public to wear masks outdoors at all times for protection. The situation monitored hourly, is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Higher…
- Thailand News
Central Thailand: Residents demand urgent action as lead pollution threatens Klity Creek
Long-suffering residents of Klity Creek in Thong Pha Phum district are reaching their breaking point as they intensify their fight against lead pollution. Petitioning the Pollution Control Department (PCD), these fed-up villagers demand action to eradicate the lingering toxic sediment, amounting to a staggering 800,000 tonnes, still plaguing their community. The apparent failure of the PCD’s much-hyped rehabilitation programme has…
- Thailand News
Thailand and Cambodia join forces to tackle transboundary haze pollution
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday unveiled plans to form a joint task force with Cambodia to combat transboundary haze pollution. The decision was made ahead of a scheduled meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet set to take place in Thailand on February 7. The leaders will undertake a joint study tour to Sa Kaeo province, an area severely impacted…
- Thailand News
Thailand grapples with severe PM2.5 dust pollution impacting 53 provinces
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported this morning that 53 provinces across Thailand grapple with detrimental health impacts due to PM2.5 dust pollution. Don Mueang district in Bangkok is suffering the most, registering the highest levels of this harmful particulate matter. According to GISTDA’s report from yesterday, there were 310 heat spots detected throughout the country by…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s air quality under threat as haze season approaches
Grey skies are looming over Thailand’s popular tourist destination of Phuket despite the air quality remaining at a moderate level during the first week of January. The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has already flagged concerns as predictions suggest the annual haze might arrive earlier than expected this year. According to the World Air Quality Index project (AQICN), the concentration of hazardous PM2.5…
- Thailand News
Fine dust pollution spikes across Thailand, Bangkok plans tree-planting pilot
Intensified fine dust pollution has led to heightened levels of fine particulate matter under 2.5 microns, known as PM2.5, in 30 provinces across Thailand, including Bangkok. This development was recorded yesterday through the satellite-based Check Foon application, developed by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). Samut Songkhram experienced the highest dust level, peaking at 84.1 microgrammes per cubic…
- Business News
Plastic predicament: Thailand faces a ton(ne) of trouble with a 62% surge in waste
Plastic waste in Thailand has witnessed a surge of 62%, escalating from 2.12 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the Thailand Environment Institute. This increase has been largely attributed to lifestyle changes induced by the pandemic, such as an increased reliance on food delivery services. The Prayut Chan-o-cha government initiated a policy in 2018…
- Business News
Thai government approves 8 billion baht scheme to tackle PM2.5 pollution
To mitigate the escalating PM2.5 pollution problem, the government recently approved a scheme worth 8 billion baht designed to incentivise sugarcane farmers to modify their harvesting methods. The initiative, which is set to be implemented in the 2022/23 harvest year, encourages farmers to cut fresh sugarcane without burning the residue, a practice known to be a significant contributor to the…
- Thailand News
ASEAN air chiefs unite with RTAF to ‘clear the air’ in Thailand pollution battle
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is gearing up to join forces with its ASEAN counterparts to combat air pollution, specifically honing in on the issue of fine particulate matter PM2.5. This announcement took flight during the annual ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, which concluded today, with a mission to ‘clean up’ the skies. The conference…
- Phuket News
Oil spill on Phuket beaches met with quick cleanup response
Late yesterday afternoon marked the start of a clean-up operation on the northwest shores of Phuket. Beachgoers were met with harrowing sight of oil and tar balls, accompanied by traces of oil slick that had made their unpleasant appearance on the beaches. The beaches targeted by the operation included locations at Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Nai Thon, and Layan. The…
- Thailand News
Thailand battles marine pollution with 507 tonnes of waste collected in 2020
Marine pollution issues have impinged on Thailand‘s coastal regions, with increasingly alarming statistics emerging, according to updates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Throughout last year, there were reports of 22 oil spill events within the Gulf of Thailand, and an astonishing 507 tonnes of various waste gathered from surrounding seas, as noted by deputy government spokeswoman, Traisulee…
- Environment News
Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution
The Administrative Court yesterday decreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Environmental Board (NEB) were guilty of neglecting their duties in addressing the escalating toxic air pollution in the province of Chiang Mai. This denunciation originated from a case initiated by a local man named Wasuchart Pichai. Wasuchart argued that he has been adversely impacted by the haze…
- Environment News
Green candidates struggle for support in Thailand’s election amid pollution crisis
Amid escalating pollution in Thailand, green political candidates face an uphill battle to gain traction with voters ahead of the elections. Despite hazardous smog plaguing Bangkok and northern Chiang Mai, environmental issues have taken a backseat to populist welfare policies as political parties try to outdo each other. Green Party leader Phongsa Choonaem admitted that while the public’s understanding of…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s pollution control department to lower safe PM2.5 levels following WHO guidelines
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) yesterday announced plans to align with the World Health Organisation guidelines and reclassify the safe level for ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) to 37.5 µg/m3 in an effort to address dust pollution concerns. Jatuporn Burutphat, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, expressed the ministry’s…
- Environment News
Chiang Mai’s haze crisis: Health and tourism at risk
The ongoing severe haze pollution in Chiang Mai has not only increased health risks for the inhabitants but has also negatively impacted its tourism industry. Affected parties are urging the government to implement long-term measures to address the issue, including the passage of a ‘clean air’ bill currently awaiting deliberation in parliament. The PM2.5 pollution affecting the upper northern provinces…
- Pattaya News
Songkran garbage plagues roads around Chon Buri beach
Garbage left from the Songkran holiday is plaguing the roads around a Chon Buri beach. Heaps of garbage have been covering the roads around Bang Saen Beach since Songkran celebrations ended on Monday. While most provinces in Thailand mark Songkran from April 13 to 15 every year, some provinces in Thailand’s eastern region celebrate the festival for a bit longer. Chon…
- Thailand News
Forest fire kills another firefighting volunteer in northern Thailand
A firefighting volunteer was tragically caught in the flames while extinguishing a forest fire in Nan province in northern Thailand yesterday, where a thick layer of smog continues to blanket the region. The body of 62 year old Sriwan Mirayot was found in the forests surrounding Doi Sa-ngud mountain in the Bor Suak subdistrict in Mueang Nan district. His fellow…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Mai ranks as most polluted city in the world for 9 days running
Northern Thailand continues to battle a thick layer of smog with Chiang Mai being ranked as the world’s most polluted city by PM2.5 rating for nine days in a row, according to the IQAir website, reports ThaiRath. The highest air quality index (AQI) value was found at the Health Hospital in Ban Khai Hospital in Mae Na Wang subdistrict, Mae…
- Environment News
Chiang Mai tour operators concerned over pollution, bookings down 50%
Tour operators in Chiang Mai raised concerns after the latest tourism figures revealed bookings were down 50% after the popular tourist destination was ranked the world’s most polluted city. But that’s not all, respiratory diseases in the province continue to rise The air quality index produced by Swiss company IQAir revealed that Chiang Mai had a reading of 216 at…
- Environment News
Oriental dollarbird falls from the sky in Bangkok due to suspected PM2.5 poisoning
A sick Oriental dollarbird fell from Bangkok‘s polluted sky near Lumpini Park on Wednesday. Veterinarians examined the bird to find that it was suffering from severe pneumonia in both lungs. They suspected it was caused by PM2.5 dust pollution poisoning. Kaset Sudecha, a veterinarian from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Kasetsart University, posted a photo of the bird on…
- Environment News
Chiang Mai residents to get free face masks as dangerous air pollution soars
Chiang Mai residents are getting free face masks as dangerous air pollution in the province soars. Authorities say they will hand out the masks to the public as forest fires continue to pollute the air. The fires have been a problem for years as farmers continue to set ablaze fields to clear the way for the next crop cycle. Several…
- Environment News
Phuket residents call on authorities to investigate black water at beach
Phuket residents are calling on authorities to investigate after foul-smelling black water was found flowing into the sea at a beach. On Sunday, residents and tourists were shocked to find lots of black water pouring into the sea at Karon Beach near Nong Harn Lake. Swimmers rushed out of the sea after seeing the black water. According to The Phuket…
- Environment News
Thailand to ban all plastic waste imports in 2025
Thailand has taken a significant step toward reducing its plastic waste by announcing a complete ban on plastic waste imports from January 1, 2025. The decision, made by the Thai Cabinet today, is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to tackle the escalating problem of plastic waste, which is contributing to environmental degradation and posing a threat to human health.…
- Environment News
Pattaya’s air suffers unhealthy PM2.5 dust levels
Pattaya’s air is suffering from unhealthy PM2.5 dust levels. The health-hazardous dust level has risen to 174 microgrammes per cubic meter, far above the safety threshold of 50 microgrammes per cubic meter, The Pattaya News reported yesterday. AQI readings above 100 are considered “unhealthy” (red), above 200 are considered “very unhealthy” (purple) and beyond 300 are considered “hazardous.” The dust…
