Bangkok fails international air tests<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): The smoggy Thai capital of Bangkok has been
\nbranded \"unhealthy\" after failing to pass key international-
\nstandard tests of its air and water quality and its waste
\ndisposal system, a report said.<\/p>\n
The sprawling city of 10 million people failed to pass muster
\nin seven of 23 areas tested under the World Health Organization
\n(WHO) criteria to establish whether the metropolis qualified as a
\n\"healthy city,\" the Bangkok Post said.<\/p>\n
\"Environmental quality and management in Bangkok has been
\nbranded unhealthy,\" the leading daily said. \"The indicators
\ninclude air and water quality, waste disposal and open space.\"<\/p>\n
Other \"unhealthy\" factors taken into account by the survey of
\nBangkok carried out by a special committee, were \"public
\nparticipation, transportation and income distribution.\"<\/p>\n
The news, which will come as little surprise to residents of
\nthe city famed for its traffic-clogged streets and myriad
\nbuilding sites, was revealed by the capital's deputy governor,
\nKachit Choopanya, at a seminar called \"Bangkok, Healthy City in
\nthe Year 2000.\"<\/p>\n
\"According to the WHO there are 23 indicators and seven among
\nthese were graded unhealthy,\" he reportedly said. \"Four of the
\nseven are concerned with the environment.\"<\/p>\n
The study showed that economic and infrastructure development
\nin Bangkok over the past two years had been \"good,\" while
\ndevelopment in the quality of life, \"especially environmental
\nfactors, was reaching crisis point.\"<\/p>\n
Bangkok Governor Bichit Rattakul responded to the report by
\nsaying the city administration had been battling to control the
\ncity's building-site dust levels, but conceded that air and noise
\npollution remained problems.<\/p>\n
However, he said the number of green areas and open spaces in
\nthe very concrete city had in fact been growing, the Bangkok Post
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Officials said residents had only 0.59 square meters of park
\nspace per person compared with the WHO standard of four square
\nmeters.<\/p>\n
The city fathers will hire academics to follow up on the
\nreport and conduct research into the negative indicators, the
\npaper added.<\/p>",
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