Respiratory Illnesses in Thailand
One of Thailand’s largest silent killers called air pollution is on a spree again. In just the first three months of 2023, it’s already responsible for over one million respiratory illness patients in hospitals across the country. We suggest you take protective measures before it’s too late.
Growing up as an energetic boy adored by everyone in his big Thai-Chinese family, Dr. Krittai Tanasombatkul has spent his time exercising, eating clean, keeping a consistent and healthy sleep schedule, and has never smoked.
His promising future is guaranteed after he received two Master’s degrees and became a university medical lecturer in 2022. With his life mapped out and ready to be spent with those whom he loves, he plans to propose to his partner and settle down in the tranquil northern city of Chiang Mai.
The plan, however, was interrupted by a cough.
That cough developed into a series of wet and dry coughs that persisted for months. He underwent a chest X-ray just to see that half of his right lung had completely vanished, and at the age of 28, Dr. Krittai was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer.
Dr. Krittai is one of more than 2.4 million Thai people suffering from illnesses related to air pollution in 2023. As Thailand climbs the air quality monitoring company IQAir’s rank for the world’s most polluted countries, breathing in Bangkok is equivalent to smoking 1,224.77 cigarettes a year.
Although Chaing Mai has the highest level of air pollution compared to other provinces in the country, Pacific Prime Thailand encourages everyone to learn more about Thailand’s overall air quality situation in this article so that they can stay safe despite the hazy environmental outlook.
Thailand’s Invisible Killer
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines air pollution as “contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere,” creating a mixture of solid particles, droplets, and gas that pollutes the air.
Among the mixture, pollutants of major health concern for humans are carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and the most detrimental of all: fine particles of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter called particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which can enter the body in a blink of an eye.
PM2.5 is tiny. In fact, it’s even tinier than a strand of human hair, so it can directly translocate into the bloodstream before altering coagulation pathways of the cells and increasing the risks of both short and long-term health problems, including but not limited to:
- Discomfort and irritation
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Headache and dizziness
- Nausea
- Respiratory and heart diseases
- Lung cancer
- Brain and nerve damages
- Possible birth defects
- Premature death
- Higher chances of depression and suicide
While the effects of PM2.5 vary in individuals, the following groups of people may develop a more serious reaction upon contact with the pollutants:
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- People with congenital health disorders, especially lung or heart issues
How Bad is Air Pollution in Thailand?
According to IQAir, Chiang Mai has earned the title of the most polluted city in the world this April. While the levels of PM2.5 aren’t as high in other provinces, they still exceed WHO’s range for healthy air quality, resulting in an alarming increase in people with respiratory diseases.
In 2021, more than 50,000 premature deaths in Thailand were attributed to air pollution, making it a bigger killer than COVID-19. In only three months into 2023, 1,449,716 people were hospitalized because of air pollution that’s predicted to shorten their average life expectancy by two whole years.
Thailand’s air pollution problems don’t only cost the lives of both the adults we respect and the future generations but also the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). As much as USD $95 billion, 6.6% of GDP, was estimated to be spent on healthcare due to the rise of air pollution-related cases.
The WHO guidelines state that the annual average PM2.5 concentration per cubic meter shouldn’t exceed 10μg/m3, but Thailand’s national average is at a staggering 64μg/m3. With this 540% excess in the level of concentration, everyone in the country is at risk of developing respiratory diseases.
Where Does Air Pollution in Thailand Come From?
Air pollution and Thailand have been coexisting for a very long time. In addition to the pollutants carried across borders from slash-and-burn agriculture in neighboring countries, Thailand also produces air pollution domestically with a wide range of contributors, depending on where they are.
For example, Bangkok was polluted by combustion engines that accounted for 72% of the city’s pollution in 2022. In the same year, however, air pollution in the northern city Chiang Mai mostly came from field burning. The main causes of air pollution in Thailand can be categorized into three groups:
1. Stationary or Point Sources
From chemical manufacturers to gasoline terminals and paper mills, industrial facilities are mostly responsible for the air pollution problem in Thailand. Large coal-fired power plants that are still operating in the country despite opposing voices have been contributing greatly to the pollution.
By releasing toxic by-products into the air and letting them blow across the Gulf of Thailand to the plains of Bangkok, coal-fired power stations are the main factor contributing to the PM2.5 level around the area. While there are draft bills on air pollution, little progress has been made.
Four bills requesting for clean air have been drafted since 2019. However, former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has halted three of them while proposing short-term protection measures such as detecting vehicles with excessive smoke, asking citizens to wear masks, and spraying water into the air.
According to Thailand Development Research Institute, of the 87 major policy promises the former government had made, only three concerned environmental problems. Without laws directly targeting air pollution from coal-fired power plants or industrial facilities, the crisis is likely to persist.
2. Mobile or Line Sources
Combustion engines with excessive carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbon emissions are one of the main drivers behind the rising air pollution in Bangkok and major cities nationwide. The pollutants in engine emissions can cause damage to lung tissue and incite respiratory diseases.
For those with a vehicle that emits black exhaust smoke, we highly recommend you to reach out to a qualified mechanic and have them check your vehicle’s:
- Air filters
- Intake-components
- Sensors
- Fuel injectors
- Fuel pressure regulator
- Fuel return line
3. Area Sources
Farmers in northern Thai provinces are known for their frequent agricultural and biomass burning, which are the main polluters of cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. While proven effective for delivering minerals back into the soil, this farming technique releases toxic pollutants into the air.
Agricultural burning is a farming method used widely to clear the land and turn vegetation into nutrients by cutting forested land and burning remaining crops. The nutrients, however, only make the land fertile for a few years before the farmers have to find a new plot, leaving the land degraded.
Although the former government had put a ban on field burning, many farmers still use this method as it’s remarkably less expensive than purchasing large harvesting machines. Consequently, we normally see the upsurge in air pollution levels in the harvest season during December to February.
How to Protect Yourself from Air Pollution in Thailand?
As looming clouds of dust veil over Thailand, people under the country’s gray sky are at risk of developing respiratory illnesses regardless of socioeconomic background. Still, protective measures require money, resulting in disparity in access to protection among people of different social status.
While we firmly believe breathing clean air is the right for everyone and not a privilege, there are measures you can consider taking to effectively protect yourself from the hazardous air in a practical manner:
Wear Effective Filtering Masks
N99 or N95 masks provide high particle filtration rates at 98% and 94% respectively. Wearing these masks outside greatly helps prevent pollutants from entering the body and filtering out PM2.5. If there’s no available masks, you may cover your mouth and nose with a damp handkerchief instead.
Stay Updated on Pollution Levels
Air pollution levels differ in various locations and times. Monitoring the air quality will help you prepare before going out or doing outside activities.
Apart from the Pollution Control Department’s Air4Thai mobile application and website created specifically to report air quality around the country, you can use the IQAir AirVisual app that’s been approved by the United Nations Environment Programme and other available apps on your operating system.
Avoid Exposure to Air Pollution
Although it’s best to stay indoors while keeping your windows closed, we understand that this isn’t a logical solution. If possible, we recommend hitting the road before rush hours, avoiding places with high pollution levels, and immediately cleaning your body and clothes after going out.
Regularly Perform Household Maintenance and Adjustments
Keeping your house clean doesn’t only ensure that your living space is safe but also reduces potential pollutants.
By cleaning your house, changing air conditioner filters, using electrical household products instead of gas-powered ones, and growing plants or placing air purifiers inside your house, the level of air pollution—along with the chance of you getting respiratory diseases—will be lowered.
Get Routine Check-ups and Medical Treatment as Needed
Regular health check-ups can help you understand your body and its condition. Since Thai hospitals are well known for their highly-trained doctors and state-of-art facilities, you’ll be offered options of treatment as soon as a sign of a potential illness in your body is detected.
Conclusion
Air pollution in Thailand is a prominent problem affecting everyone in the country. While tackling its causes requires cooperation on a larger scale, you can protect yourself by wearing masks, keeping track of air pollution levels, avoiding toxic pollutants, and getting health check-ups regularly.
There are many health check-up packages offered by top hospitals in the country; nevertheless, their costs are on the higher side—let alone the costs of treatment when you’ve already developed a respiratory disease. This is why it’s crucial to safeguard your finances with medical health insurance.
With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Pacific Prime Thailand is more than happy to keep you protected with the right insurance plan. We’re looking forward to providing you with impartial advice and an obligation-free plan comparison service. We’d love to hear from you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the worst air quality?
According to IQAir’s air quality monitoring ranking, the Republic of Chad had the worst air quality in 2022 with PM2.5 concentration that was 17.9 times more than the WHO annual air quality guideline value. Other countries among the top five are Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Bangladesh.
Is PM10 more dangerous than PM2.5?
While PM10, particulate matter of 10 micrometers in diameter, is less harmful than smaller particles like PM2.5 that can directly translocate into the bloodstream, PM10 can irritate your eyes and nose and worsen respiratory diseases. It’s best to protect yourself from every type of pollutant.
When is the safest time to travel to Bangkok?
The highest levels of air pollution in Bangkok are mostly detected during December to February each year. If you can’t avoid traveling to the city during these months, please make sure to protect yourself with N99 or N95 masks as well as other equipment against toxic pollutants.
After graduating at the top of her class and earning her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Thammasat University, Natthachamon has been practicing her writing skills and making education more easily accessible for Thai children as an Educational Content Creator and English Curriculum Developer for various educational facilities and organizations across the country.
Natthachamon is also a mother of two cats, a board game enthusiast, and a big bookworm who enjoys everything and anything sweet.
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