Air quality in Lat Krabang

Is there air pollution present in Lat Krabang?

In mid-December of 2021, a US AQI reading of 139 was recorded in Lat Krabang. This placed it into the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' rating bracket, and observing other pollution readings taken in the days and weeks before this, it can be seen that readings of 114 and 125 were also taken, placing it once again into the aforementioned air quality rating group. In the following question, these more vulnerable members of the population will be discussed in more depth, although when pollution readings reach numbers such as these, the general population may also start to experience adverse side effects from the air pollution, which includes irritation to the respiratory tract, the skin and other similar effects. Throughout November of 2021, readings typically stayed within the 'moderate' air pollution bracket, which whilst it is not perfect, is considerably better than the above-mentioned reading of 139. As such, the air quality in Lat Krabang may be subject to sudden spikes, as well as dips in air pollution levels, particularly towards the end of the year and in the early months of the following year. As such, pollution levels should be monitored to know when the air is of better quality in Lat Krabang.

Which people are more at risk of negative health issues caused by pollution exposure in Lat Krabang?

Before discussing which groups of people are more at risk of developing adverse or more serious complications related to air pollution exposure, it must be noted that any level of air pollution carries with it the possibility to cause negative health effects amongst those exposed, including healthy or otherwise fit individuals. Clouds of smoke and fine particles may trigger sudden immune responses, cause health conditions related to the skin, lungs and heart (in more severe cases) to arise. Referring back to the question, those who are more at risk include groups such as younger children and babies, both of whom are highly vulnerable to the negative side effects of chemical and particle exposure. Alterations to the nervous system can take place, due to many chemical compounds having this property when they accumulate in large enough quantities within the human body. This can result in slowed growth, as well as developmental issues and impaired mental faculties, with children who suffer from excessive pollution exposure for many years sometimes having these ailments, as well as sustaining damage to their lungs and other organ systems. This can once again have a domino effect of stunting growth as well as leading to other lifelong health issues. Other groups that fall into the sensitive bracket are pregnant women, who much like the young children and baby’s demographic, can subject their unborn child to the negative side effects of pollution exposure due to certain hazardous chemicals being able to make their way to the child in the womb, causing instances of babies being born prematurely, with low birth weight, as well as increasing the rates of infant mortality. Elderly citizens in Lat Krabang are also at risk, due to them being more prone to suffering from respiratory or cardiac ailments. Simple chest or upper respiratory tract infections may develop into more life-threatening or terminal conditions amongst the elderly, with other comorbidities such as sedentary lifestyle, pre-existing health conditions, obesity, or habits such as smoking lending itself to making these illnesses considerably worse. Lastly, many people can exhibit a hypersensitive disposition towards certain ultrafine particles and other chemicals found in the pollution in Lat Krabang. As such, all of these groups would do well to stay up to date on the pollution levels, both for the current day as well as the forecasts for the coming week. Preventative measures such as wearing fine particle filtering masks and avoiding outdoor activities can aid greatly in reducing more serious side effects.

What are some further health issues that can be caused by poor air quality and pollution exposure in Lat Krabang?

Health issues that may occur when pollution exposure frequently occurs in Lat Krabang include, as mentioned above, instances of irritation to the respiratory tract, as well as infections of the chest and throat. Skin conditions can occur from smoke and haze exposure, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Further conditions include those that fall under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) bracket, some of which are pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema. More serious issues include arrhythmias and increased rates of heart attacks, as well as strokes and even premature death occurring, all of which have been directly linked to excess pollution exposure many times over the course of recent history, highlighting the importance of keeping oneself safe from breathing larger amounts of pollution in Lat Krabang.

What type of pollutants can be found in the smoke and haze in Lat Krabang during more polluted times of the year?

Some pollutants that may be found in the air in Lat Krabang include ones such as black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Due to both being given off from the incomplete combustion of both organic matter and fossil fuels, they can be found in larger quantities in many areas that see any amount of industrial activity, 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, xylene, methylene chloride, toluene as well as formaldehyde, all of which come with harmful side effects when exposure and subsequent inhalation occurs.

What are the main causes of rising pollution levels in Lat Krabang throughout the year?

Air pollution in Lat Krabang can come from many different areas and sources, having a great similarity to other causes that pollute provinces and cities throughout Thailand. Vehicle fumes are one of these main factors that are of concern, particularly when regarding the surrounding cities and districts of Bangkok, due to the large number of people situated outside of the direct city center, a common phenomenon due to lower property expenses and better quality of life. Of note is that Lat Krabang is also in close proximity to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and as such there may be resulting clouds of fine particles arising from activities centered around this area. furthermore, it is common for a majority of the population in areas such as Lat Krabang to work within the city center of Bangkok, causing many daily commutes to occur, with subsequent rush hour traffic emitting large amounts of hazardous particles, clouds of smoke, haze and smog as these vehicles travel out of Lat Krabang. 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 Lat Krabang include smoke and haze from industrial activity, as was mentioned, with various industrial sites, factories, power plants and certain business places that utilize fossil fuels such as diesel, natural gas and coal to obtain 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 highly illegal.