Air quality in Bang Bo District

Is the air in Bang Bo District polluted?

The air quality in Bang Bo District is subject to a wider variety of pollution readings, many predicated upon the certain months of the year in which they are taken. Much like many cities, towns and provinces throughout Thailand, including both heavily populated areas as well as smaller rural towns, Bang Bo District can be affected by one of the more prominent air pollution issues that occur in the country. This is the case of slash and burn farming, a highly illegal practice that still manages to continue each year nonetheless, causing spikes in air pollution readings, both recorded in PM2.5 figures as well as that of the US AQI reading. This practice starts towards the end of the year and can also affect the earlier months of the following year, although it is not so extreme in Bang Bo District as it is in other parts of the country, particularly those in the far northern regions that are not just affected by locally started fires, but by those drifting over the borders from other nearby countries such as Myanmar. In early October of 2021, a US AQI reading of 72 was picked up, indicating a level of air pollution that falls into the 'moderate' rating bracket, color-coded as yellow (as with all ratings they have their related color-coding, for ease of reference and navigation when referring to the various air quality maps, graphs and forecasts in use throughout this page and others on the IQAir website) and requiring a US AQI reading of 51 to 100 to be classified as such.

The US AQI reading is a figure aggregated from the various main pollutants found in the air in Bang Bo District as well as the rest of the world. They are considered as main pollutants due to their consistent release from all polluting sources around the globe, with many of these being discussed in further detail in the following question. The pollutants that go into this US AQI readings are carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, along with the two main forms of particle pollution, PM10 (the larger or more coarse variety, and hence of a lesser danger when breathed) and PM2.5, ultrafine particles that are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, making them one of the most dangerous forms of pollution, due to their size as well as the large variety of materials they can consist of. Some of these materials include nitrates, sulfates, metals, mold spores, bacteria and viruses, silica and other mineral dust, as well as water or other liquid vapors. When the above mentioned US AQI reading of 72 was taken, the PM2.5 reading was found to be at a concentration of 22 μg/m³, two times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO's) exposure recommendation, and also sitting in the 'moderate' rating bracket, which requires a PM2.5 reading of 12.1 to 35.4 μg/m³, differing from the US AQI classification. In closing, looking at all of the US AQI readings taken for September 2021, it can be seen that over half were in the 'moderate' bracket, whilst the others were in the more appreciable 'good' bracket. This indicates that the air quality in Bang Bo District can be unsafe to breathe at times, and will likely increase in its pollution levels as the year comes to an end. Preventative measures such as wearing fine particle filtering masks and avoiding outdoor activity can help reduce harmful side effects from excess pollution exposure. Such levels can be followed via the forecasts on this page, as well as via the AirVisual app.

Why does Bang Bo District have instances of higher air pollution?

As touched upon briefly, instances of open burn sites are a great cause of pollution throughout many regions of Thailand, being hard to enforce due to them often being committed under the cover of darkness or in harder-to-reach areas. Whilst many measures to prevent them are continually being put into place, they remain as one of the most prominent causes of air pollution spikes, adding to the already polluted air in many of the larger cities. Sources of ambient or year-round air pollution are ones such as emissions from vehicles, and the exhaust fumes they give out from the combustion process taking place within their motors. This can be worsened significantly if the vehicles are older or in bad shape, which is a common sight in many areas of rural Thailand. Aged vehicles give out thick plumes of black smoke, and can leak far larger amounts of noxious oil vapors and other harmful pollutants. Other sources of air pollution in Bang Bo District include emissions from factories, power plants (both of which can also go through large amounts of fuel such as diesel, coal and natural gas), along with construction sites and road repairs adding to particle pollution levels.

Are there any health problems associated with breathing polluted air in Bang Bo District?

Health issues that may appear when one is exposed to higher levels of pollution, over drawn-out periods include instances of coughs, headaches, nausea and other disturbances to the nervous system and overall health. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can make itself present, containing within it illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis. More serious issues include heart attacks, strokes, damage to the nervous system (amongst others), and increased cases of premature death, both directly or indirectly linked to pollution exposure.

What months are the most heavily polluted in Bang Bo District?

Observing the PM2.5 readings of 2020, one can see that Bang Bo District followed a familiar pattern with many other Thai cities. Although data was missing from the earliest months of the year (where they were most likely to be at their highest), it can be seen that salient spikes in air pollution appeared in October through to December, with December being the most polluted month on record with its reading of 27.6 μg/m³.

What are some of the cleaner months of the year in Bang Bo District?

Once again, as with many cities and towns in Thailand, Bang Bo District had its cleanest months in the middle portion of the year, with May through to September coming in with the lowest readings. Whilst none of them managed to fall below a 'moderate' pollution rating, July came close with its reading of 12.1 μg/m³, making it the cleanest month of the year.