Bangkok Residents Told to Stay Inside as Pollution Reaches Dangerous Levels

[Nereus]

Yes, they are patting their selves on the back claiming that Bangkok is much better today. For a start there is a bit of wind, but mainly being Sunday there is a big reduction in road traffic.

It is STILL just as obscured to the east out towards the Airport as it has been every other day this past week. And anything from that fire WILL arrive in Bangkok due to what little wind there is being an easterly.

[Nereus]

4% of large vehicles found emitting black smoke

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

Many trucks and passenger buses were found emitting more black smoke than the 45% limit in checks of exhaust fumes conducted by the Land Transport Department to date, according to director-general Peerapol Thavornsupcharoen.

The checks have been conducted since Feb 1 at 31 checkpoints in 15 provinces on major and secondary roads used by trucks and buses heading for Bangkok.

On Feb 1-2, 3,280 vehicles were examined at these checkpoints. Of them, 117 trucks and 17 buses, or 4% in total, were found to be emitting more black smoke than the limit.

Owners of the trucks and buses found emitting higher than 45% of black smoke were fined 5,000 baht and the vehicles were banned from use until they are fixed and certified by the Land Transport Department.

A warning was issued for owners of vehicles emitting between 30-45% of black smoke, instructing them to fix the engines.

The department has also asked operators of trucks and buses throughout the country to get their vehicles checked at all LTD offices throughout the country, starting Feb 4, to prevent the emissions of black smoke, one of the sources of PM2.5 particulate matter. This is an urgent measure to be taken until the PM2.5 crisis has eased.

People who spot trucks and buses with black smoke are urged to record their registration plate numbers and inform the department's complaint centre at the 1584 hotline so that actions can be taken against them, Mr Peerapol said.

[Nereus]

Hmm, the Thai Met Dept. must be reading the Forum, as now they have suddenly discovered what a temperature inversion is, as I posted a few days ago.
...............................................................................................................

Temperature quirk set to worsen haze

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... orsen-haze

Met office warning for 4 coming days

People in Bangkok and its surrounding areas were warned Monday to take extra precautions against PM2.5 dust particles on Thursday and Feb 13-15 which the Meteorological Department expects to be the most heavily polluted days this month.

This is due to a phenomenon known as temperature inversion that suspends more such particles in the lower atmosphere than usual.

The warning was issued by the permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Wijarn Simachaya, after he emerged from a meeting of the National Environment Board chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The meeting was aimed at providing an update on the dust and air pollution situation and coming up with more effective measures to tackle the problem.

Temperature inversion usually occurs in winter and is marked by a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, in which a layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air, which consequently blocks air and dust particles from an upward movement, resulting in less ventilation for pollution.

"We advise people not to go out on these particular days. But if you have to, don't forget to wear the N95 masks.
"I see a lot of people wearing N95 masks, but they do so loosely with only one strap secured around their faces. This will not protect you from the PM.2.5 dust particles at all," Mr Wijarn said.

Mr Wijarn also added that the ministry is coming up with long-term solutions, which aim at reducing biodiesel usage and applying European Emission Standards within Thailand.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said officials are expediting efforts to reopen traffic lanes closed for the construction of electric train projects to boost traffic flow and reduce PM 2.5 pollutants.

Water is also being sprayed around construction sites of these projects and expressway toll gates to minimise haze, Mr Arkhom said.

Meanwhile, since Friday, Department of Land Transport (DLT) officers have impounded 137 lorries and 24 public buses for spewing black exhaust smoke in excess of the safety limit.

DLT director-general Peerapol Tavornsuppacharoen said 4,616 trucks and lorries had been checked at 31 checkpoints set up in 15 provinces leading to the capital during the three-day inspection.

Operators of the 161 impounded vehicles will be fined 5,000 baht and must have their vehicles fixed and tested by the DLT before being they can be used again, Mr Peerapol said.

[StevePIraq]

Legislate to get diesel vehicles of the road, stop the sale of charcoal, make all food courts and street vendors smoke free zones, and I don't mean cigarettes.

[Nereus]

The biggest pollution comes from the "authorities" in the from of BS!
The Bangkok Administration is building a new retaining wall along Phrakhanong Klong right next to my Condo. There is a big Caterpillar excavator working from a floating barge. This morning the machine was barely visible through the thick cloud of black smoke it was spewing out, which was being driven by the wind straight into the front Condo units!

[StevePIraq]

The biggest pollution comes from the "authorities" in the from of BS!
The Bangkok Administration is building a new retaining wall along Phrakhanong Klong right next to my Condo. There is a big Caterpillar excavator working from a floating barge. This morning the machine was barely visible through the thick cloud of black smoke it was spewing out, which was being driven by the wind straight into the front Condo units!

But that is simply because there is no HSE enforcement on the project. The project management company should have a HSE policy and regular inspections of all plant carried out, hence any non complyng plant being removed from the project.

While bad in iteself it's relatively minor in the whole context.

[Nereus]

While bad in iteself it's relatively minor in the whole context.
Is that right? The BMA is supervising the job, the same BMA that is SUPPOSED to be enforcing pollution controls.
What has HSE got to do with air pollution in this context?

And as for "minor" there are literally thousands of these machines working in Bangkok, so I fail to see how it can be "minor"!

[StevePIraq]

HSE is Health Safety and Environment.

I did say legislate to get diesels off the road

[PeteC]

Read the comments at the bottom of the Bangkok Post article. They make what we say on here rather tame.

Stern action pledged as people defy burn ban
Published: 12/02/2019 at 04:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Buri Ram: Officials are adopting a mixed approach to help deal with the toxic haze that has shrouded parts of the province, as local residents continue to ignore the ban on the outdoor burning of waste.......


https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... y-burn-ban

[PeteC]

Chiang Mai third most polluted city

Right behind New Dehli and Lahore......


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... l/30364016

[Nereus]

Well, the crap is back in Bangkok with a vengeance. The high rise building about 1.5 Kms away from where I am has completely disappeared in the smog. Virtually zero wind, so nothing is being moved.

[Big Boy]

That fits - my Granddaughter has been told today she will be getting another lung break this week.