Air quality in Bang Kapi

What is the air pollution level in Bang Kapi?

Bang Kapi is located in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the 50 different districts within or on the outer limits of the capital city. Due to its proximity and thus having a large amount of vehicular, industrial and anthropogenic activity taking place as people make their way in and out of the district on a daily basis, Bang Kapi is thus subject to some poorer levels of air quality as a result. This is a common theme for many cities around the world that are in close proximity to major capital cities, often acting as proxies for industrial sites and other similar areas, as well as housing a great number of people who commute into central Bangkok due to several factors, with the main one being the cost of living being higher within the inner city than on the outskirts of any satellite cities or districts.

The air quality level in Bang Kapi shows itself to be fairly polluted throughout many months of the year, and whilst there is a lack of concise data regarding 2020 and any years preceding it, in mid to late 2021, it can be seen that there were some relatively elevated levels of US AQI present. US AQI itself is a figure aggregated from the several main pollutants found in the air in Bang Kapi, as well as other cities and states throughout the world. These pollutants will be discussed in further detail later on in the article, but they are typically associated with byproducts released from various combustion sites, along with fine particle pollution also being used to calculate the number. These two main forms of particle pollution are PM10 and PM2.5, with the former being any particle that is 10 micrometers or less in diameter, whilst PM2.5 is any material that is 2.5 micrometers or less, on occasion going down to sizes many times smaller. It is due to this property that PM2.5 is one of the most dangerous pollutants that can be found in the air throughout Thailand and indeed the world, with its ability to makes its way into the furthest reaches of the body upon inhalation and causing damage to many organ systems and raise rates of premature death and other terminal illnesses such as cancer, as well as pulmonary or cardiac conditions.

Regarding the US AQI levels taken in Bang Kapi in August through to early September of 2021, figures such as 65 were seen on record. This would place Bang Kapi into the 'moderate' air quality rating bracket for the particular day and time in which it was taken. This is color-coded as yellow and requires a US AQI reading of anywhere between 51 to 100 to be classified as such. During times such as these, the general public would mostly remain unaffected by such levels of air pollution, although irritation to the exposed mucous membranes such as the eyes, ears mouth and nose may start to occur, to a lesser degree. For those that belong to more vulnerable demographics, however, they may start to experience respiratory distress, although the danger levels still remain low.

Other US AQI readings present include ones such as 73 and 83, both on the higher end of the 'moderate' rating bracket. This is moving up close to the next rating of 'unhealthy for sensitive groups, and as it draws closer, naturally the level of irritation and respiratory distress that certain individuals would experience would worsen as the US AQI levels rise. As such, air quality readings in Bang Kapi should be closely monitored to safeguard one’s health from the ill effects that excess pollution exposure can bring. This is particularly salient for more vulnerable or at-risk groups throughout the population, and these air quality levels can be followed via the maps and graphs available on this page as well as the forecasts), and also by using the AirVisual app.

What causes higher air pollution levels in Bang Kapi?

There would be a large number of different polluting sources present in Bang Kapi and throughout much of Bangkok. Whilst it is significantly freer from the major polluting issues seen in cities that lie in northern areas of the country due to the highly detrimental slash and burn farming practices that take place, it is still subject to many other causes of pollution, as with the mass movement of people coupled with industrial activity, there is naturally heightened levels of air pollution present.

Cars and motorbikes would contribute to these ambient year-round pollution levels, with people making their daily commute in and out of the city all utilizing vehicles that give out exhaust fumes, all of which contain many chemical compounds and dangerous particles. Other sources include emissions from industrial sites such as power plants, along with factories, which rely on using fossil fuels such as diesel, oil and coal to meet their energy needs. Haze can also drift over from neighboring countries or even adjacent provinces, settling over the city and causing pollution emergencies, which have occurred many times over the last few decades, many of which are noted in the air quality history of Bangkok.

What effect do fine particles have in Bang Kapi?

As mentioned, fine particles have a prominent effect on the health of those who are exposed. PM2.5 can be made out of materials such as water and other liquid vapors, along with finely ground metals, nitrates and sulfates, mold spores and bacteria, dust and soot, as well as silica and gravel ground down to microscopic levels. Many of these can cause damage to the lungs upon inhalation, and a number of them have carcinogenic effects, causing rates of lung cancer to go up significantly when exposure takes place over long periods.

What health problems arise from pollution exposure in Bang Kapi?

Other health issues that can arise are ones such as dry coughs and chest pain, along with subsequent infections of the respiratory tract. Reduced lung function can occur, often due to the onset of ailments that fall under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) bracket. These include ones such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema. Other more serious issues include skin and lung cancer, increased risk of heart attacks, ischemic heart disease, strokes, and even death in more serious cases.

What are some chemical pollutants that are found in the air in Bang Kapi?

Pollutants in the air include many of the ones that were mentioned in the PM2.5 collective. Ones that fall under the US AQI bracket include ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, along with both PM10 and PM2.5 being counted in the aggregation. Black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also prominent pollutants, both of which are released in high amounts from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic material. Some examples of VOCs include the highly carcinogenic benzene, along with toluene, styrene, xylene and methylene chloride.