Thailand faces a daunting air pollution crisis, especially in Bangkok, which ranks as one of the world’s most polluted cities. Many children and families are impacted by the health consequences of smog, compelling schools to close and parents to use masks. Government efforts including rainmaking attempts are evident, but systemic improvements and stricter policy enforcement are urgently needed to tackle the underlying issues of air quality deterioration.
In recent weeks, many individuals in Thailand, including families and children, have suffered from persistent coughing due to alarming levels of air pollution, particularly during the dry season. As Bangkok ranks as the fourth most polluted city globally, school closures have become commonplace, with 352 institutions affected. Parents have been forced to equip their children with masks simply to attend school amid days designated as “pollution days.”
Exercise routines in polluted air have become precarious as residents must check the air quality index daily before outdoor activities. Many mornings, families are met with ‘very unhealthy’ air quality levels that prevent them from stepping outside, an unfortunate reality in this era of advanced pollution awareness and mitigation technologies. The consequences of poor air quality are stark; UNICEF recently reported that air pollution leads to the deaths of around 100 children under five in Southeast Asia and the Pacific each day.
The Thai government is attempting to mitigate the situation with the deployment of aircraft known as “rainmakers.” These planes discharge large quantities of water over heavily polluted areas in hopes of clearing the air. However, critics argue that this approach lacks substantiated evidence for its efficacy, pointing out that it merely addresses symptoms rather than the root causes of pollution.
Pilot Aim Suracharttumrongrat emphasized the scale of the problem, noting that “it’s a very huge scale problem.” He highlighted the growing severity of pollution levels yearly, as new challenges emerge from agricultural practices such as slash-and-burn farming, which contributes significantly to air quality deterioration. This environmentally damaging practice is often driven by economic necessity and corporate demand.
In addition to local agricultural practices, transboundary pollution exacerbated by winds from China and India compounds the air quality crisis. Despite governmental efforts to provide free public transport and reduce traffic pollution, enforcement of agricultural burning regulations remains weak. A systematic and stringent approach to accountability is crucial for ameliorating this multidimensional crisis.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has raised discussions on transboundary smog with ASEAN foreign ministers, yet greater policy reforms and strict implementation will be necessary for Thailand to achieve significant improvements in air quality.
Air pollution has long been a critical issue in Thailand, especially during the dry season. The stagnant air allows pollutants to accumulate, leading to severe health impacts and ranking Bangkok among the global cities facing air quality challenges. Factors such as agricultural practices, industrial emissions, and cross-border pollution contribute to the escalating crisis. The Thai government’s efforts showcase both innovative and traditional approaches to combat these challenges, but the effectiveness of such measures remains to be seen, given the deep-seated nature of the problem.
The ongoing air pollution crisis in Thailand poses severe health risks, particularly for children. Despite government interventions like the usage of rainmaking planes, substantial changes in policy and stricter enforcement of existing regulations are necessary for a sustainable solution. A unified approach involving accountability and international cooperation is critical for improving Thailand’s air quality and safeguarding the health of its citizens.
Original Source: www.moreradio.online
