Air quality in Khlong Sam Wa

Is the air polluted in Khlong Sam Wa?

The air in Khlong Sam Wa is showing some high levels of air pollution, with numbers sharply rising towards the end of the year. In early December of 2021, US AQI readings of 137 were recorded, placing Khlong Sam Wa into the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' bracket. This indicates that there are larger amounts of smoke, haze, smog and other forms of dangerous particulate matter gathering in certain areas, and as the name of the rating indicates, may cause a variety of health issues for more vulnerable or at-risk people. Whilst these pollution levels are not maintained year-round, it is important to note that sudden spikes in air pollution can be observed, and these levels may stay elevated for long periods of time. Pollution levels and forecasts can be followed via this page or using the AirVisual app, for the most up-to-date and high-quality information on air quality conditions.

What health problems can occur from breathing unclean and polluted air in Khlong Sam Wa?

Some health issues that may arise as a result of breathing in excessive amounts of polluted air in Khlong Sam Wa include irritation to the skin and mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as a variety or respiratory and cardiac conditions. Most prominent amongst these respiratory illnesses fall under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) bracket, which includes pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. More serious health issues that can occur amongst those with pre-existing health conditions, particularly when pollution exposure is severe or maintained over long periods, include increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and even death.

What causes pollution buildup to occur in Khlong Sam Wa?

Pollution buildup in Khlong Sam Wa is caused by a variety of sources, all of which are very similar to those that affect other provinces in Thailand, as well as any of the larger cities in South East Asia. Vehicle fumes are of great concern, especially for these satellite cities and districts of Bangkok, with many people living outside the center of the city as is common worldwide, for lower property expenses and more suitable quality of living, but inevitably the employment is to be encountered within the inner city and thus the daily commutes are made, causing rush hour traffic (a standard theme in Bangkok that many visitors and inhabitants are cognizant of) to emit extensive amounts of hazardous particle pollution, clouds of smoke, haze and smog in Khlong Sam Wa, all with varying degrees of different pollutants in them. Older and lower quality vehicles remain prevalent, even though there are many incentives in place to gradually phase them out altogether. This will aid greatly in pollution reduction in the major cities of Thailand but may prove much greater of a task in provincial areas throughout the countryside where ancient motorbikes, cars and trucks remain in use, leaking much larger amounts of noxious oil vapors due to their poor engine quality, as well as their exhaust fumes spitting out great clouds of dark smoke. Furthermore, vehicles contribute to other forms of particle pollution, with the consistent wear and tear placed on tire treads giving rise to large amounts of microscopic rubber particles entering into the atmosphere. From here they can cause a large number of health issues when inhaled, triggering off pre-existing health conditions as well as potentially invading the bloodstream if their size is diminutive enough, as well as gathering in the environment and wreaking devastation on ecosystems. Other causes of pollution present in Khlong Sam Wa include smoke and haze from industrial activity, as was mentioned, with various industrial sites, factories, power plants and even private businesses that rely on the combustion of fuels, or even fossil fuels such as diesel, natural gas and coal to provide their energy needs. Other ones of note include dust given off from construction sites and road repairs, as well haze floating over from other provinces where slash and burn farming practices are still more heavily relied upon, despite being made illegal. This can cause seasonal spikes in pollution to occur, with the latter months of the year, namely September or October onwards, through to the early months of the following year.

What are some forms of air pollution that are present in Khlong Sam Wa?

Some pollutants that may be found in the air in Khlong Sam Wa include ones such as black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Due to both being discharged from the burning of both organic material as well as fossil fuels, they can be found prominently in many areas that see any level of industrial activity, or in more simple terms anywhere that has some form of burning or combustion taking place. Black carbon has numerous dangerous properties when inhaled, as well as also having warming impacts on the environment. Some examples of VOCs include benzene, styrene, toluene and formaldehyde, all of which come with harmful side effects when inhaled, which is made easier due to their volatile nature allowing them to keep a gaseous state even at lower temperatures throughout Khlong Sam Wa.

Is polluted air in Khlong Sam Wa more dangerous to certain groups of people?

Those that are most vulnerable to breathing smoke, haze and clouds of fine particles in Khlong Sam Wa are groups of people such as the elderly. Older members of society as well as those visiting or passing through are generally more susceptible to the negative side effects brought on by breathing pollution, due to increased sensitivity towards respiratory issues, as well as cardiovascular ones, with these two systems (pulmonary and cardiac) being the most susceptible to harm. What may start as standard upper or lower respiratory infections brought about by an assortment of pre-existing health conditions, correlated with potential co-morbidities from sedentary lifestyles or habits such as smoking, these infections can worsen and turn into possibly fatal disorders. Due to this aspect, elderly people should maintain good standards when it comes to reducing their pollution exposure. The data and forecasts available on this page, as well as the AirVisual app, can aid extensively in notifying individuals as to when the air quality levels become hazardous, or at least to a level where they may start to aggravate respiratory or cardiac conditions amongst certain members of the population. Of note is that whilst there is definitively a link between higher levels of pollution and more severe health conditions as a result of exposure to these higher levels, any level of air pollution has the potential to cause harm, and as such mild elevations in US AQI readings, as well as PM10 or PM2.5 levels, should be acted upon accordingly. Other groups that fall into the more at-risk bracket are those such as young children, babies as well as pregnant mothers. Babies and young children are still experiencing their vital formative years, and due to many pollutants being able to cause alterations to the nervous system, as well as impairment the lungs and other organs in the body, young children could potentially undergo stunted growth, impeded mental development as well as witnessing heightened cases of health issues such as asthma, which can stay with them for life. Other groups that also fall into the more vulnerable bracket include those with compromised immune systems, often going hand in hand with the aforementioned pre-existing health conditions, as well as those with hypersensitivity towards certain particles or chemical compounds. Pollution readings recorded towards the end of the year in 2021 certainly indicate that there is potential for adverse effects to occur, not only amongst these more at-risk groups but also amongst the general population.