Air Quality in Thailand | The Causes of the Smokey Season | The Real Reason!

[@darwinjina]

Have heard it discussed alot lately, but this is the first time that I seen it on a map. Thanks

[@kendrewreviews]

Great Video. I'm an Anti-trash Burning Campaigner in Thailand (2012 - Current) and this was a great explainer video. This topic can be expanded on greatly. I've recently acquired irreversible heart damage as a result of inhaling Thailand's PM2.5 despite wearing a mask regularly since 2015. I'd be happy to guest on your channel as an expert. The fact of the matter is that every day is a burning day. Thailand, as a country, does not have waste collection or waste management. The majority of trash is open burned. This is because laws are weak here and not enforced. And now that Thailands richest 1% elitist in Bangkok have created a robust American-style car economy, there are over 37 million cars (registered) in this Texas-sized country of 70 million people. That's two times more populated than Canada! Gas/Petrol here is low quality which also worsens air quality. Moreover, there's no smog check in Thailand either. Roads are very toxic. I'm a 41 year old former athlete who never drinks or smokes. I now suffer a rapid resting heart beat of 100+ BPM. I thought I was being smart by escapting the American rat trap (2012), but I didn't know that moving to a cheap country would result in me almost paying with my life! You get what you pay for. Cheap country = toxic air, filthy bacteria ridden tap water, Bangkok the only Western-friendly city, the remaining 98% of Thailand like a 3rd World Country with only rice and noodles. Think you can move to South Thailand? Good luck! I just moved to Phuket. It's hell. -5G radiation everywere. Towers installed on top of apartment buildings! I get frequent headaches. -High Humidity. 85-90% humidity means that I'm cleaning my condo every day to fight off white mold on my stuff and black mold in my bathroom. It's exhausting! I now have chest pains from all the mold. -Narrow road clogged with traffic. Phuket is like Los Angeles. It takes an hour to go 5-7 kilometers by car. If you take a scooter - prepare your will. The roads have tourist who drive poorly, aggressive tourism van drivers, and impatient locals who drive like they have 9 lives. The Grass is NOT Greener on the other side. Instead of running away from your country, use your 1st amendment freedomes to participate in democracy and take back your country from corporations! I'm trying to get back to California even thought it's expensive and society hates white men. It's better than dying in Asia from pollution or living in a mold infested apartment in South Thailand/Malaysia/Singapore. For more information about my journey: www.linkedin.com/kendrew-asia Collab with me: www.thekendrew.com

[@Thatonemomwhotucksyo]

Oh, my goodness 😮

[@nickgregoris]

ummm.. We have 5g here in the US too.

[@annchurchill2638]

and just a reminder: thewater is not safe to drink. Ihad months of parasites and lots of tests at Chiang MaiRam Hospital ($$$) until I questioned a pharmacist. I think the parasite in the water is Gardia.I use GYnoGena pills(4) when i accidentally swallow the water.Don't use faucet water to brushyour teeth.Restuarants use a TON of ice in all their drinks. Avoid restaurant water/ice.Buy a water purifier.

[@KevinArnold37]

Great content! Thank you. And you have the best name for a KZbin channel ❤love it

[@billyboy17ify]

Ok Arnold Seriously the best name for a KZbin channel 😂

[@LJ-jq8og]

That is the BEST video 💪❤I have ever seen on this topic ! I am subbing because of this video alone ! This will help me decide when to travel to Bangkok and other areas too 🙏

[@TheNarrowGate]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@wxmath]

Grrat informative video, thanks. Your info is so valuable and have helped my wife and I prepare for our move. Keep up with your good work, much appreciated! We always look forward to your posts.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Glad you have enjoyed our videos! 😊🇹🇭

[@seamusp5991]

Thanks for the deep dive!

[@dlhanson51]

Thank you for the explanation. If I lived there as an expat, I would go somewhere else (like Malaysia or far southern Thailand) for the worst months.

[@enzos711]

No escape in SE Asia, sorry ..

[@lotuslogic]

Thank you sir, you voice are so clear

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thank you 🙏

[@globaltravelmate]

Unbelieveable right. And there is no way to influence the neighbouring countries 😞

[@enzos711]

Throughout Asia / SE Asia ..

[@cherylauckett6745]

I am arriving there today 5th. I do have asthma, controlled but I am in Bangkok and it's bad here.

[@HairyPixels]

Coming to Chiang Mai now? Please stay away and go someplace else. It's not worth it...

[@TheNarrowGate]

Be careful

[@2kkto2]

Well done thanks. And all this time I thought it was my neighbor chain smoking cigars...

[@TheNarrowGate]

🤣😂

[@HairyPixels]

People in the city have stopped now (maybe because the ordinance) but people in the country side are still burning and the hill tribes are burning the forests (same people in Lao and Burma like the Hmong, Lisu etc...). Even into January you see fires every evening in the outer regions around Chiang Mai and people in the country are always burning leaves in their year. Point being the smoke will never go away but there's extensive burning locally which must be a major contributing factor.

[@Sunday_Morning570]

It's 2023 FFS and burning is still the normal way to clear the fields for farming?

[@melee75]

I'm going to Thailand soon. Planning to spend most of November in Bangkok and then I'm open from December on. Thinking of going to Koh Chang, Hua Hin, then Ko Samui and Ko Tao. Do you think this would be a good plan to avoid the worst air pollution during that time of year (Dec-Feb)?

[@TheNarrowGate]

The air pollution doesn't really become a big problem until around mid-February. December and January are lovely in Chiang Mai so if you plan to visit the north it would be best to do it prior to February. Those areas you are going sound really nice and I hope you have a wonderful trip!😊🙏🏻🇹🇭

[@alisonkelly2881]

Thank you for that information. So we are now mid April, I'm due in C.M. in 3 weeks, how is it looking?

[@TheNarrowGate]

Right now it is still extremely smoky but all we need is one good rain or some wind and rain and we should be fine.

[@mathewbacsik8681]

Thanks for doing that research. How often would you say it starts in mid January?

[@TheNarrowGate]

Not sure how often. Usually Feb.

[@TheAlkalineHealer]

What solutions has Thailand implemented to provide a service that purifies the air?

[@TheNarrowGate]

We just run air purifiers. Thailand will always have the air problem.

[@TheAlkalineHealer]

@@TheNarrowGate indoor or outdoor purifier?

[@gregorypierce7473]

I've been here in Bangkok and Chiang Mai for the last 2 weeks and am ruling it out for my retirement. The air quality is just not good. Even CM was horrible yesterday. (Dec 13th). Everyone is coughing and my lungs actually hurt. Everyone deserves clean healthy air and Thailand is failing on that front. Its sad as I really love the Thai people/culture. BTW. CM is supposed to be OK this time of year in regards to air quality.

[@NAKMUAYACADEMY]

What would be top 3 regions / cities with best air quality?

[@TheNarrowGate]

The far south or an Island.

[@kevinstrong7520]

Why live there move to Koh Samui...?

[@Chris-qg8ss]

Thailand fire pollution is shocking. WOW.

[@Renovegas6109]

Will marijuana grown in this air be filed with 2.5 polution . I am worried. With no rain it has to settle in the buds

[@sammygoh]

Ever thought of moving to other parts of chiangmai?

[@enzos711]

Doesn't matter, no escaping it ..

[@sammygoh]

Ever thought of moving to elsewhere in Thailand, instead of chiangmai ? My husband and I are currently processing our retirement visa for thailand. We had spent time in chiangmai before in November. Was wondering if we should move there or someone else. Any opinion much appreciated

[@TheNarrowGate]

If it’s possible, you might want to consider living in Chiangmai, part of the year and an island down south for the other part of the year.

[@blackfacethecat]

A somewhat misleading video.... It's easy to see its mainly the forests that are on fire, and in Northern Thailand it is mostly done by Hed Thob mushroom foragers

[@enzos711]

IT's throughout Asia / E Asia / SE Asia.. there's no escaping it ..

[@TNKeith]

I arrived in Chiang Mai last week. So all I know is smoky season. Do not really notice any respiratory issues so far.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Welcome to Chiang Mai 🇹🇭👍❤️

[@anna_m59]

Wow you are posting at 5 am…you know Europe. Is in big winter time. Snow and minus degree so of course there is no fire. Also in prohibited to burn anything outside in European countries.

[@Swaggerlot]

Great video, maybe a bit drawn out though. The whole of SE Asia/China is burning off anything that burns from January through to about April. China is already pushing up shitloads of pollution from its industrial plants. Through this period there is little movement in the lower atmosphere across SEA, in fact for a large proportion of time the area is trapped under high pressure descending air that creates a temperature inversion 'lid' across the whole region. This lid holds in the pollutants and no action from any government will fix it. The answer is obvious to all that are not responsible for fixing it. In the meantime the western world is sprayed by this 'green shit' from nimbies. I don't go there anymore in those months because it is DANGEROUS!

[@David-ue6gk]

I am exaggerrating some features to make a point. If Thailand crop fires contributed say 33% of the smoke, if Thailand soved the problem so no more agricultural fires, then that would be a one third reduction in smoke contribution for Thailand. So right now Bkk is 121... a one third reduction would make it about 80 which is in the moderate category, not unhealthy. (Actually moderate is bad for you as well. ) My point is every little bit helps and a one third reduction would make a significant difference, I'll take it.

[@philipfreeman72]

The farmers dont like to plow? Some are trash fires .

[@annchurchill2638]

Today is December 22and I can barely see the mountains!!!.Looking in theother direction, the world seems to end in about a half mile.I would tell people to stay away from Thailand for the next few months.Dangerous for your health.Tourists beware.Stay away.

[@Methy_Watches]

I’ll stay in Australia. Deal breaker

[@georgequek7996]

How to retire for w-farang guys or others with smokey weather and noisy traffic jam in the kingdom, Sad kap ?? 😷🙏

[@bigjaysbigbikeadventure1395]

One of the reasons that Northern Thailand is unable to stop this is because a lot of the people who do it are nomadic. Trying to arrest or fine people who are constantly on the move. Plus the hill tribes people are a law unto themselves. Kinda like Indian reservations in the US Thailand police only have limited powers over some of these areas. Also I feel like there's an element of complicity here as well as so much of Thailand's sugar and corn comes from these farmers so it's like "meh yeah we wanna stop them but we also kinda want all that good food!"

[@TheNarrowGate]

Agreed 👍

[@enzos711]

Deal Breaker for my retirement in Asia / SE Asia .. Stay here in NH with "Good Air" Qual, minus intermit Canadian Wildfires

[@kevinstrong7520]

rationalizing the Decay of the West, Koh Samui (southern part on an island is good year round).

[@michellechristineday]

Yes, the smoke is annoying, but controlled burns are one of the best ways to prevent raging wildfires that kill people and wipe out communities and whole cities. Notice how most of the fires are in mountainous/forested areas.