Each 7 September, United Nations (UN) International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is commemorated.

The Thammasat University Library collection includes a number of books about clean air and the specific problem of air pollution in Thailand.

As the UN website indicates:

Climate impact: short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are among those pollutants most linked with both health effects and near-term warming of the planet. They persist in the atmosphere for as little as a few days or up to a few decades, so reducing them can have an almost immediate health and climate benefits for those living in places where levels fall.

Preventing and reducing air pollution to improve air quality globally

Аir pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally, with some estimated 6.5 million premature deaths (2016) across the world attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Particularly in developing countries, air pollution disproportionately affects women, children and the elderly, especially in low-income populations as they are often exposed to high levels of ambient air pollution and indoor air pollution from cooking and heating with wood fuel and kerosene.

Аir pollution is a global problem with far-reaching impacts owing to its transport over long distances. In the absence of aggressive intervention, the number of premature deaths resulting from ambient air pollution is estimated to be on track to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2050.

Society bears a high cost of air pollution due to the negative impacts on the economy, work productivity, healthcare costs and tourism, among others. Hence, the economic benefits of investing in air pollution control cannot be overestimated, and it must be understood that there is also an economic rationale to act and that cost-effective solutions exist to address air pollution.

Poor air quality is a challenge in the context of sustainable development for all countries, in particular in cities and urban areas in developing countries, with levels of air pollution that are higher than the limits set out in the World Health Organization air quality guidelines.

Some air pollutants, such as black carbon, methane and ground-level ozone, are also short-lived climate pollutants and are responsible for a significant portion of air pollution-related deaths, as well as impacts on crops and hence food security, so their reduction has co-benefits for the climate.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

UN Member States recognize the need to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030, as well as to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management by 2030.

Clean air is important for the health and day-to-day lives of people, while air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. Air pollution disproportionately affects women, children and older persons, and also has a negative impact on ecosystems.

Today, the international community acknowledges that improving air quality can enhance climate change mitigation and that climate change mitigation efforts can improve air quality.

Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in clean air, and emphasizing the need to make further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health, the General Assembly decided to designate 7 September as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.

Clean Air and Sustainable Development Goals

In the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want,” countries committed to promoting sustainable development policies that support healthy air quality in the context of sustainable cities and human settlements. Also, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines a road map to achieving sustainable development, environmental protection and prosperity for all, recognizes that air pollution abatement is important to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Among the associated efforts for UN International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is the BreatheLife Campaign.

BreatheLife combines public health and climate change expertise with guidance on implementing solutions to air pollution in support of global development goals. The campaign is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

According to the WHO website,

In Thailand, WHO has been collaborating with Ministry of Public Health and other partners since 2015 on the issue of air pollution and its effects on health.

Specifically, WHO supported a risk assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in organic burnings in Northern Thailand to examine the levels of PAH in the air and street food. This assessment led to recommendations on PAH standards.

The WHO offers general advice for times of high pollution, for example:

• Do not use wood burning stoves, candles, and incense as these will all add to air pollution levels by producing particulate matter.
• Stop use of cigarettes and other tobacco products as these will also add to air pollution as well as other adverse health effects
• Reduce unnecessary travel by cars, scooters and other motorized vehicles. This will not only prevent additional personal exposure but it will prevent adding to already high pollution levels for others.
• Do not burn leaves, garbage, crop residue, plastic or other materials. Burning these materials adds greatly to local pollution levels. In residential areas this is particularly hazardous.
• Conserve energy by turning off lights and electronics when not being used. To minimize exposure, WHO advises the following actions during high-pollution episodes:
• Find out the levels of air pollution in your neighbourhood and follow any advice from local authorities to guide your planned activities.
• Remain indoors as much as possible. All people, particularly those at risk, children and elderly people, should stay indoors as much as possible and away from roads with heavy traffic. External doors and windows should remain closed to reduce the penetration of pollution from outside.
• Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and intense exercise outside.
• Pay particular attention to keeping the rooms inside homes clean: Wet mopping and dusting is preferable to sweeping or vacuuming as these can stir up additional dusts and particles.

Thammasat innovations

Last year a Thammasat University engineering student, Promsurin (“Top”) Phutthammawong invented a particle counter, TSE Air Quality Indicator (TSE AirQ) to report accurate levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an air pollutant that is a concern for people’s health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.

Top, a third-year student of electrical and computer engineering under the supervision of Professor Watchara Amasiri, made it possible for four indicators to be installed around TU, at Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat Hospital, Dome Administrative Building, and Thammasat Secondary School. More TSE AirQ indicators are planned to be installed at all Thammasat campuses including at Tha Prachan, Pattaya and Lum Pang campuses.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)