Thread: The North Calls For Government To Adjust Air Quality Guidelines

A civic network in the northern provinces is stepping up calls for the government to adjust air quality guidelines to bring them in line with international standards and further reduce the health impact of seasonal air pollution.


Bannarot Buakhli, a member of the Breathe Council formed to solve the pollution crisis in the northern region, told an online discussion that the network will launch a campaign this month to lobby for new air quality guidelines.


The current air quality index for hazardous particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, or PM2.5, is not in line with the international standard, so it does not truly reflect air pollution hazards and cannot protect people’s health, he said.


Mr Buakhli said the Thai air quality index shows PM2.5 levels of 76 microgrammes per cubic metre as within the “orange” category, or unhealthy for sensitive groups. However, these PM2.5 levels fall within the “red” category, or unhealthy, in the US air quality index.


The Breathe Council is urging the government to adopt the 24-hour mean and annual mean of WHO global air quality guidelines. Under these, the 24-hour mean of PM2.5 levels is 37 microgrammes per cubic metre and the annual mean is 15 microgrammes per cubic metre.


The so-called safe level of PM2.5 is 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, according to Air4Thai, operated by the Pollution Control Department (PCD).


Mr Buakhli said the region is developing a Northern Thailand Air Quality Health Index (NTAQHI) after the successful development of Chiang Mai Air Quality Health Index to monitor air pollution and alert residents of health risks.


Nakhon Junjanam, a council member based in Lamphun, suggested the network launch an all-year campaign to raise public awareness.


The North Calls For Government To Adjust Air Quality Guidelines | Chiang Mai News - Daily News Stories From Chiang Mai & Thailand

to adjust air quality guidelines to bring them in line with international standards and further reduce the health impact of seasonal air pollution.

Call me Mr. Fickle, but what is the point of new guidelines when they don't make any serious attempt to meet the ones they've got now?

It needs some appropriate laws AND enforcement.

Isn't burn back one of the main problems with the air quality up there.

A few years ago the govt said they where going to fine farmers, though like many things here, they only speak and don't implement.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Call me Mr. Fickle, but what is the point of new guidelines when they don't make any serious attempt to meet the ones they've got now?

It needs some appropriate laws AND enforcement.

Yeah, 'guidelines' isn't the right word, is it.

The report is about how the measurements are being manipulated to make it seem like things aren't too bad.

Just in case you missed it.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Yeah, 'guidelines' isn't the right word, is it.

The report is about how the measurements are being manipulated to make it seem like things aren't too bad.

Just in case you missed it.

The article talks about "WHO global air quality guidelines".

Perhaps you were too busy getting all excited about how you were going to try and be clever to actually be clever.

So speaks the world's expert on everything, who's still apparently missing the point.

You'll never surpass your 'why do those idiots think wearing masks will protect them' posts at the start of the COVID thread though, genious.

Originally Posted by cyrille

So speaks the world's expert on everything, who's still apparently missing the point.

You'll never surpass your 'why do those idiots think wearing masks will protect them' posts at the start of the COVID thread though, genious.

Yeah, seems like you don't understand that either.

* genius

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Call me Mr. Fickle, but what is the point of new guidelines when they don't make any serious attempt to meet the ones they've got now?

It needs some appropriate laws AND enforcement.

Good luck waiting for that to happen. The only thing guidlines do in Thailand is tell everyone how far over they are.

Originally Posted by misskit

The North Calls For Government To Adjust Air Quality Guidelines

They along with the Northeast and Southern provinces can call all they want and result will be same as usual. No change if the powers in Bangkok decide the change will further enrich them.

The golden rule "he who has the gold, makes the rules" is strongly practiced here.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

Good luck waiting for that to happen. The only thing guidlines do in Thailand is tell everyone how far over they are.

Basically the PM2.5 levels are so high they could probably double what they consider to be "healthy" and they'd still fucking breach it.