A Testimony From Bangkok's Unbreathable Alleys

Environmental issues affect every corner of this earth. In particular, developing countries seem to take the hit the hardest due to hot climates, governments and demanding economies with manufacturing as their backbone which surrounds these regions.

Air Pollution, in particular, has risen as one of the top critical environmental issues that are on the rise with dangerous side effects that need grass root solutions which have lasting effects at eradicating this problem for good.

When Bangkok’s air pollution reaches that critical margin you can feel it the minute you walk out the door. You can taste it in your mouth. It hangs in your hair. Moreover, you can barely see the skyline of this hazy, entrancing city. The masks that commuters don while swerving through the busy alleys serve only as a slight barrier from the micro-particles that toxify the city’s atmosphere.

Air pollution in Thailand’s capital has risen dramatically in the last five years. The government routinely issues warnings to stay indoors, closing schools and relocating hospital patients.

The smog that surrounds this Southeast Asian city daily is made up of a variety of harmful compounds that include: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and even lead and other massive metal particles.

The World Health Organisation estimates that each year two million people die Worldwide in emerging, developing countries prematurely from the poisonous gases emanated as as a byproduct of human activity.

Air Pollution in Bangkok

You might ask what are the factors that drive Bangkok’s increase in pollution, compared to other Asian cities and what contributes to the pollution pandemic that circles the city daily?

The four main factors are:

Heavy Constant Traffic

Old Automobiles that transmit dark fumes

Backyard burning of plastic

Densely populated areas

Government’s lack of services like waste disposal

How Bad is the Air Pollution in Bangkok?

Bangkok is the second most polluted province in Thailand. Last year, the city’s AQI averaged a score of X over Y, consistently exceeding the safety limit and putting it on par with other basket cases like Delhi and Beijing. Today, as I am typing this article, measurements indicate an AQI of 175 in Bangkok, compared to an AQI of X in a healthy city like Copenhagen.

Humidity and weather conditions also have a profound effect on how the smog circulates, at times trapping and condensing fume pockets around the city. That is why seasonal peaks are registered during the asphyxiating summer months.

What is the solution and what initiatives have been set up already to combat Air Pollution in Thailand?

"The government are scrambling to find real solutions that will reduce pollution levels as the automobile and motorcycles that are on the road daily are out of control. However, they are starting to introduce eco-friendly cars, provide incentives which are encouraging people to use public transport, such as the Skytrain and volunteer groups who are beginning recycling plastic initiatives instead of burning are springing up."

Diesel fumes from cars contribute fifty to sixty per cent of the pollution while burning rubbish and crops attributed to about thirty-five per cent.

Any level above one hundred and fifty is considered governed unhealthy, and Bangkok ranked in the top ten of polluted cities worldwide this year.

“The government has to take decisive action to enforce pollution regulations, and they are on the right track so far, deploying efforts such as strict enforcement of emission controls. We know they are also looking at more urgent measures, and the UN Environment is working closely with the government on longer-term solutions,”

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“While solutions like cloud seeding may provide temporary relief for larger particulates, it does not, however, help reduce PM2.5,” Mr Srivihok warns (Thailand’s UN Abassorder)

“After these interim measures, the next logical step is to shut down the most polluting factories. That may mean accepting some economic damage in the short term, but protecting public health must be the utmost priority. Beyond factories, the government can move urgently to replace soot- spewing public buses and boats running on diesel fuel with less polluting versions.” said Mr Srivihok

The UN has created and collaborated with the climate and clean air coalition to provide science-based solutions.

They have created a list of the top 25 clean air measures which can be introduced effectively.

Follow the link to the full report - http://ccacoalition.org/en

Below are our top measures that can be implemented effectively and are a top priority for Thailand:

Solid Waste Management: Encourage centralized waste collection with source separation and treatment, including gas utilization. This is lacking in the Thai capital as the government lack the financial resources.

Rice Paddies: Encourage intermittent aeration of continuously flooded paddies. Within Thailand this is an ongoing problem that not only affects the economy but people’s livelihoods!

Emissions standards for road vehicles: Strengthen all emissions standards; special focus on regulation of light and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

Within the Thai capital this is one of the biggest problems! Dark fumes escalate out of old run down vehicles (mainly public transport like buses) which really escalates the daily pollution problem in Bangkok.

Post Combustion Controls: Introduce state-of-the-art end-of-pipe measures to reduce sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions at power stations and in large-scale industry. This is costly and time consuming, however with the right investment, planning and implementation it is a necessity.

“The report estimates its recommendations would cut carbon dioxide emissions by twenty per cent compared to a baseline scenario, potentially decreasing global warming by one-third of a degree Celsius by twenty-fifty, which would also be a contribution in the fight against climate change.”

Even though the pollution has dramatically worsened in recent years; it has called to action the biggest revolution in air purifying solutions, preventions and cures to solve this problem. It will take some time to eradicate environmental issues and demands a global and grassroots level cohesive approach to dramatically reduce the damaging effects of air pollution.

Daily actions can be implemented by the governments & general public to significantly prevent disease, congestion and threat to the overall inhabitants of Bangkok caused by air pollution.

In years to come with the use of technology, cohesive collaborations with outside sources such as the UN and world recognition the damaging effects of pollution can become a thing of the past as we watch these urban areas evolve into ‘Smart Cities’ through the development of technology, infrastructure & conscious clean living.