Polluted Bangkok's Year of the Pig curbs on incense go up in smoke

A woman lights incense while praying in a Chinese temple ahead of Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thais of Chinese descent largely ignored Bangkok's call for restraint in burning of incense and "spirit money" to mark the Lunar New Year as the city fights choking pollution.

Most people celebrating the Year of the Pig, which began on Tuesday, shrugged off health concerns as they burnt offerings to ancestors at shrines, many wearing anti-pollution masks.

Men perform Chinese Lion dance in Chinatown during the Chinese Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

"It's impossible to completely stop burning incense," said Romnalin Wangteeranon, 61, from behind a mask. "It's a festival that we descendants cannot do without."

Air quality in Bangkok has been hovering at unhealthy levels as the amount of hazardous dust particles known as PM 2.5 exceeded the safe level in several districts where face masks have sold out at most drug stores.

PM 2.5 is a mixture of liquid droplets and solid particles that can include dust, soot and smoke, one of the main measures of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

People perform Chinese Lion dance in Chinatown during the Chinese Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Tuesday's AQI was 110 in the afternoon, according to airvisual.com, which measures levels in cities worldwide, placing Bangkok among the world's most polluted cities.

Bangkok's index has improved from last week due to a change in wind direction. But measures taken by the government, including seeding rain clouds, regulating truck traffic and hosing down streets, have helped little.

There was only slightly less incense burning this year compared to 2018, which was not enough to make a difference, said an official at the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, which runs the Tai Hong Kong Shrine in Bangkok's Chinatown.

Men perform a Chinese Lion dance during Chinese New Year in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

"Since we could only ask for cooperation, not impose a ban, most people are still doing it," the official said.

(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Nick Macfie)

A man sells balloons in Chinatown during the Chinese Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A woman lights a candle as she pray at a Chinese temple in Chinatown at Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A woman wearing a mask prays with unlit incense ahead of the Lunar New Year at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

A man lights incense while praying in a Chinese temple ahead of Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

People walk inside a Chinese temple during the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

A woman lights incense while praying in a Chinese temple during the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

A woman lights candles while praying in a Chinese temple during the celebration of the Lunar New Year in the Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

People light candles while praying in a Chinese temple ahead of Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Tourists pray with unlit incense ahead of the Lunar New Year at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

A group performs on a glass skywalk to mark Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Chinese lions dance on glass skywalk to mark the Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A Chinese lion dances on glass skywalk to mark the Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A woman sells seafood in a temporary night market to mark Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Thailand February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun