Air quality in Bang Yai

Is there a high level of air pollution present in Bang Yai?

Air pollution in Bang Yai is subject to some prominent changes in the severity of the pollution level present at any given time. In late December of 2021, US AQI readings went as high as 171, placing Bang Yai in the 'unhealthy' air quality rating category, indicating that breathing the air at this time would be quite detrimental to a large portion of the population. Lows of 45 were also recorded, showing that though there are days with high amounts of smoke and other air contaminants present, the air quality can also improve rapidly, due to a number of reasons. Pollution levels will likely stay high until the middle portion of 2022, whereby many cities and provinces across Thailand start to see better air quality conditions appear. In closing, air quality forecasts should be monitored for Bang Yai so that individuals can keep themselves safe during bouts of higher air pollution levels.

Who is most vulnerable to health problems when exposed to air pollution in Bang Yai?

Some of the inhabitants of Bang Yai that can be considered to be more at risk of suffering from negative reactions (and in some cases much more significant effects) from pollution exposure are people such as the elderly, as well as those with compromised immune systems or pre-existing health conditions, being worsened by other factors and comorbidities such sedentary lifestyle, or habits such as smoking. Other people that may need to take to stay clear from clouds of smoke, smog and haze include pregnant women, those with hypersensitivity towards chemical pollutants, as well as young children and babies.

What are some of the main causes of air pollution present in Bang Yai?

The main causes of higher instances of smoke, haze, smog and particulate matter in the air in Bang Yai would be vehicles, with a large number of cars, motorbikes as well as heavy-duty trucks and lorries all giving out pollution and noxious fumes, particularly if the fuel being used is of lower quality or the vehicle itself is worn down and aged. Other sources of air pollution present in Bang Yai include emissions from power plants and factories, road repairs and construction sites (as well as poorly paved roads also contributing to excessive amounts of dust and finely ground materials being thrown into the air), along with instances of smoke from the slash and burn farming sites being blown over Bang Yai from neighboring provinces.

What chemicals and pollutants can be found in the atmosphere in Bang Yai?

Some more prominent pollutants that can be found in areas around Bang Yai as well as surrounding districts and cities include ones that mainly emanate from combustion sources. These on their own are of an extremely large number, with open burn fires, natural disasters (such as forest fires, houses or buildings catching fire), combustion within vehicle engines as well as boilers in factories and other similar industrial sites, as was mentioned earlier in the question regarding what the main causes of polluted air in Bang Yai are. Whilst the aforementioned open burn fires, or slash and burn farming methods as they are generally referred to, are of more significant concern in the northern regions of the country, they can still be found to a lesser degree dotted around various provinces of Thailand and even in the central regions such as Nonthaburi where Bang Yai is found. These can cause large amounts of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and black carbon to be released into the atmosphere, along with the other pollutants that go into calculating the US AQI aggregate. The chemicals used to calculate this US AQI figure include nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, as well as the two main forms of particle pollution, PM2.5 and PM10. Of these two, the smaller PM2.5 is well known as the far more dangerous, due to its minute size of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter allowing it to bypass the bodies defense systems and lodge deep within the tissue of the lungs (with more on this being discussed in the following health issues question). PM2.5 and some forms of PM10 can consist of materials such as water droplets and vapor, along with a variety of other liquids that can be aerosolized. Other materials include mold and fungal spores, bacteria, metals, nitrates and sulfates, along with finely ground silica dust, which can have a carcinogenic effect when inhaled. Some examples of the aforementioned VOCs include chemical compounds such as benzene, styrene, methylene chloride, toluene, xylene and formaldehyde. Their volatile nature allows them to maintain a gaseous state at much lower temperatures, thus making them much easier to breathe, and would be encountered prevalently around inhabited areas of Bang Yai, due to their discharge from everything from fires, cars, factories as well as even from household items. VOCs are one of the major sources of indoor air pollution and can emanate from products such as glue, paint, varnish, as well as aerosols such as deodorant, scented candles and other toiletries. These are some of the more prevalent air pollutants that may be found around Bang Yai, with certain areas such as busy roads and intersections that see a high level of rush hour traffic having higher concentrations of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone and black carbon. Extra care should be taken around such areas, and wearing fine particle filtering masks can aid greatly in the reduction of hazardous material inhalation.

What health problems may arise as a result of breathing low quality and polluted air in Bang Yai?

Health problems that can occur during higher pollution episodes in Bang Yai include irritation to the throat, lungs and generally the whole respiratory tract, which can easily turn into infections of the affected areas. Skin conditions can occur from smoke and haze exposure, including conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Further conditions include those that fall under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) bracket, which includes illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, as well as emphysema. Other more serious health issues include arrhythmias, as well as heightened rates of heart attacks, strokes and premature death, all of which can be directly linked to excess pollution exposure, with many studies highlighting this fact throughout recent history. This places a greater amount of emphasis on the importance of keeping oneself safe from pollution exposure throughout Bang Yai, particularly during the months that have the highest readings of PM2.5 and US AQI.