Toxic smog returns to Greater Bangkok

[Gaybutton]

Toxic smog returns to Greater Bangkok

8 October, 2024

Several areas in Bangkok and nearby provinces were blanketed with hazardous levels of smog on Tuesday, the pollution trapped in stagnant air.

The Pollution Control Department reported that levels of particulate matter 2.5 microns and less in diameter (PM2.5) exceeded the safe threshold of 35 microgrammes per cubic metre of air in 24 hours in parts of the capital and in Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon as of 11am on Tuesday.

In Bangkok, unsafe levels of PM2.5 ranged from 37 to 48.8µg/m3 in parts of Bang Bon, Bang Kholaem, Bang Khunthian, Bang Na, Bang Phlad, Bang Rak, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok Yai, Bung Khum, Chatuchak, Chom Thong, Khlong San, Laksi, Nong Khaem, Pathumwan, Phasicharoen, Pomprap Sattrupai, Rat Burana, Samphanthawong, Sathon, Thon Buri, Thawi Watthana, Thung Khru and Wang Thong Lang districts.

The 48.8µg/m3 peak was in Sathon district.

In provinces near Bangkok, unhealthy levels of PM2.5 were in Krathumbaen and Muang districts of Samut Sakhon (38.3-53.4µg/m3); Muang and Phra Pradaeng districts of Samut Prakan (37.9-46); Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi (45.9); and Muang district of Nakhon Pathom (46.1).

The nationwide peak was outside the Bangkok area, 58.8µg/m3 in Muang district of Kanchanaburi, and the lowest was 3.2µg/m3 in Muang district of Phangnga.

The Meteorological Department said the fug was expected to remain over Greater Bangkok until Oct 16.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... er-bangkok

[Jun]

Do nothing and the pollution will never improve.

I did finally notice some talk of lowering public transport fares and charging vehicles for driving in Bangkok recently.
As far as I know, it's still just talk, rather that an implemented policy.
That wouldn't be innovative. I first heard about another SE Asian country charging for road use in a school geography lesson. As with most members, school was many decades ago.

Of course, even that is just one small part of the list of measures that would be required to fix pollution in Thailand.

[Gaybutton]

As far as I know, it's still just talk, rather that an implemented policy.

I didn't know it was even talk. I've seen nothing about it.

You are correct, of course, about what the powers-that-be should do. The trouble is what they should do and what they are going to do are only very rarely the same.

We'll see if the talk leads to actual action. My guess is it won't. Even if it does, who knows how long it will take to reach any agreements about where in Bangkok to start charging vehicles, how to do it, and how much to charge them? That could go on for years.

[Dodger]

Interesting...

Jai and I just returned from a short stay in Bangkok along with my daughter and son-in-law who were visiting from the U.S.

My son-in-law, who works as a master mechanic for GM, commented about the high number of vehicles belching plumes of black smoke from their exhaust pipes which we've all become accustomed to over here. I told him I thought this was due to either bad fuel or lack of maintenance which he quickly dismissed. According to him the majority of air pollution this is causing is the result of drivers disengaging the emission controls so they can get better gas mileage.

He then asked the following question: "How can these vehicles pass the mandatory emission tests"?? My answer: "Welcome to Thailand".

[Jun]

My son-in-law, who works as a master mechanic for GM, commented about the high number of vehicles belching plumes of black smoke from their exhaust pipes which we've all become accustomed to over here. I told him I thought this was due to either bad fuel or lack of maintenance which he quickly dismissed. According to him the majority of air pollution this is causing is the result of drivers disengaging the emission controls so they can get better gas mileage.

I agree with you, not your son in law. I was a graduate engineer, working in the automotive industry.

With the type of smoky diesel engines common on Thai roads, the black soot will not be caused by the disconnection of emission control equipment for gas mileage. It will be caused by poorly maintained engines, worn fuel injectors etc.
In Europe, Diesel Particulate Filters were only mandatory from 2008. Thailand lags European emissions legislation by some way. So most of the vehicles on the road would not even have had a particulate filter from new. So they can't disconnect what isn't there.

I drive a 2007 diesel, which does not belch black smoke. It has a modern electronically controlled injection system, a catalyst, which is mainly for nitrous oxides, not visible smoke & an EGR valve.
Even with the EGR valve blanked off, the car still doesn't smoke like a Thai vehicle.
There's no more emission control equipment to disconnect.

The difference between my diesel engine and a Thai diesel engine is that my fuel injection system is in good condition, as is the engine.
There had been more sulphur in Thai diesel as well, but I believe they finally adopted Euro 5 diesel specs from 1 Jan 2024.

The one modification they can easily do on older diesel engines without electronic control is increase the maximum fuel injected. That's not for economy, but power. With bad consequences for smoke output.
Incidentally, the UK diesel engines emissions test involves running the engine at maximum speed and checking the emissions in that state. On the pre-electronic injection vehicles, it was very easy to adjust that to decrease max speed before the emissions test and put it back afterwards. About 30 seconds work.

[Dodger]

The one modification they can easily do on older diesel engines without electronic control is increase the maximum fuel injected. That's not for economy, but power. With bad consequences for smoke output.

I wonder if this isn't what they're doing???

What confuses me the most is when you see smoke spewing out of newer models...most commonly low-rider pickup trucks for some unknown reason. These are the most common vehicles used by Thai workers - especially farm workers where low-riders are preferred. Another leading contributor of black smoke are those damned tour buses regardless of their age.

I was cautioned by a Thai taxi driver once to avoid buying diesel fuel from PTT for my new Ford Ranger because it's shit (in his words). His opinion was that this below-standard fuel was causing all the smoke. Right or wrong I've never once used PTT for diesel since hearing this.

In any event the poor air quality in Bangkok is probably caused by a combination of factors...not just as a result of Myanmar burning too much sugar cane as they would like you to believe.

[Jun]

Some of these newer vehicles have been around longer than we think at first sight. Also, I have no idea if Thais get their vehicles serviced appropriately. Start skipping oil changes and your engine is going to wear.

Finally, there's no way Thailand can correctly blame the neighbours for pollution. There's so much of it created in Thailand and you only need to take one look at the map to see evidence of localized pollution hot spots in Thailand.

[Dodger]

Some of these newer vehicles have been around longer than we think at first sight. Also, I have no idea if Thais get their vehicles serviced appropriately. Start skipping oil changes and your engine is going to wear.

From what I've seen Preventive Maintenance is a foreign concept over here - where PM of buildings, roadways, utility systems, vehicles, etc. is almost nonexistent. Maintenance is only performed when things break.

As a result of this third-world approach the roadways are sub-standard and crumbling, buildings become dilapidated, utility systems fail continually, and vehicles do exactly what we're talking about...spew black smoke into the environment from carbon-filled valves, pistons, nd exhaust systems exactly as you described.

The money of course which is intended for PM activities has a way of evaporating into the same thin air. I hate to always point the finger at corruption as being the root cause - but from all I've witnessed over here that's exactly what's happening.

All said, I don't let any of this bother me. Jay and I always wear our PM2 masks when in BKK or PTY when the pollution levels are up and living close to the sea and away from all the heavy traffic helps a lot.

[Jun]

From what I've seen Preventive Maintenance is a foreign concept over here - where PM of buildings, roadways, utility systems, vehicles, etc. is almost nonexistent. Maintenance is only performed when things break.

So if they don't service cars properly, that turns buying a used car into a higher risk activity,?

[Gaybutton]

PM of buildings, roadways, utility systems, vehicles, etc. is almost nonexistent.

On the rare occasions when preventive maintenance is done, they still usually do a totally shoddy job of it.

One thing I do admire, though, is the quality of the expressway roads. They did get that right. Other than that, not much immediately springs to mind.