Will inducing rain help reduce pollution? Thailand thinks so
Clean air is hard to come by these days, considering the amount of emissions produced in industrialised countries.
In Thailand, however, an attempt to resolve the biggest environmental risk in modern times has been far from conventional. Pollution level in Thailand is at 102 micrograms per cubic metre, quadruple the limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). As a result, the country is turning to cloud seeding — spraying white mist across the sky to induce rain — in the hopes of washing away particles trapped in the atmosphere.
Not only is Thailand’s approach unconventional, but it is also unproven.
"The data suggests that at the level of our area of focus, the dust cleared up," said programme head Chanti Detyothin. He, however, admitted that the program did not "make the pollution go away entirely,” adding that “even with this new technology, there are limitations.”
"We have been working every day for Bangkok to have clean air,” he said. “We are doing our best as much as we can.”
Pollution has cost Thailand more than $139 million in medical expenses. Worldwide, it kills an estimated 7 million people annually, making it the “biggest environmental health risk of our time,” according to the United Nations.
Pollution level in Thailand is at 102 micrograms per cubic metre, quadruple the limit set by the World Health Organisation. As a result, the country is turning to cloud seeding — spraying white mist across the sky to induce rain — in the hopes of washing away particles trapped in the atmosphere.
Not only is Thailand’s approach unconventional, but it is also unproven.
"The data suggests that at the level of our area of focus, the dust cleared up," said programme head Chanti Detyothin. He, however, admitted that the program did not "make the pollution go away entirely,” adding that “even with this new technology, there are limitations.”
"We have been working every day for Bangkok to have clean air,” he said. “We are doing our best as much as we can.”
Pollution has cost Thailand more than $139 million in medical expenses. Worldwide, it kills an estimated 7 million people annually, making it the “biggest environmental health risk of our time,” according to the United Nations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
