Pollution and waste
Air pollution
Authorities Counsel Forest Fire Offenders in Vientiane
Last week, the Vientiane Province government counseled 65 locals who were caught burning forest land in Phou Phanang National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area to reeducate and raise awareness on the harmful long-term effects of illegal logging and deforestation. The group was sent to a training and ...
Phontham Visapra
Fire in Phou Phanang Forest Contained After Nine Grueling Days
The fire, which was caused by agricultural burning in the area, had spread to 17 different villages in the Sangthong district, causing damage to an area of around 120 hectares of woodland.Around 600 people, including officials and local residents, were mobilized on 20 March to ...
Jonathan Meadley
Cassava Boom Leading to Deforestation, Air Pollution in Laos
The demand for cassava has seen it become the most profitable agricultural product in Laos, as demonstrated by the country’s February trade figures: cassava was the leading export item, with figures totaling USD 85 million. Laos exports most of its cassava to Thailand and Vietnam, where ...
Manyphone Vongphachanh
Landfill Fire Covers Laos Capital in Toxic Smoke
Smoke covered the skies in and around Xaythany District over the weekend, with residents complaining of the stench. Authorities have yet to make a statement regarding the fire, which is believed to have begun Saturday morning. The landfill site at KM 32 in Xaythany District, ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
Garbage Burning Remains a Hot Issue for Vientiane Capital
Residents in Vientiane Capital have complained that garbage burning remains a problem, despite hopes a hotline for complaints would put a stop to the issue.The Vientiane Capital Department of Natural Resource and Environment established a hotline, 1523, in September last year, allowing residents to report the illegal ...
Phayboune Thanabouasy
Air pollution from cooking fires, tobacco a serious health hazard
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Household air pollution from both cooking fires and tobacco is highly prevalent; nearly three-quarters of all households surveyed reported exposure to smoking in the home and exposure to indoor cooking fire smoke.When multiple sources of exposure are evaluated together, a third ...
Xayxana Leukai
Laos introduces measures to prevent worsening pollution
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government has forbidden the burning of garbage and scrub in a bid to reduce the current high levels of air pollution.The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a warning on Friday aiming to curb the emission of dangerous particulate ...
Phomphong Laoin
Triple Increase Air Alert: Vientiane, Provinces Among Latest To Bear Brunt of Regional Smog Crisis
What’s been up with (and in) the air we breathe? Smoggy haze and deteriorating air quality has seen folks in Laos’ capital and beyond reaching for face masks, air filters and measuring equipment.What they have found has been enlightening and disturbing. Air quality over much ...
The Laotian Times
Pollution at hazardous levels in Vientiane
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Wildfires in Laos and neighbouring countries are causing dangerous levels of air pollution in many regions of Laos, especially in the capital.Director General of the Pollution Control Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mrs Sisouphanh Luanglath, told Vientiane ...
Phomphong Laoin
Haze of Smog Hovers over Laos’ Capital, Citizens Concerned about Health Risks
An unhealthy haze of smog has descended upon the capital city of Vientiane and air pollution has been noted in several other provinces around Laos.Concerned local and international residents have been monitoring the situation, posting online their own amateur updates on the local levels of atmospheric ...
The Laotian Times