"On average, I listen to between 170 and 180 aeroplanes moving across the sky each day," Siwichai says smiling.

On busy days, the 25-year-old says, he measures the noise level from up to 200 aeroplanes from his work post in the compound of the Bang Chalong Nai Temple in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district.

He says most aeroplanes create a noise of 80-odd decibels. Any noise above 90 decibels is considered harmful because prolonged exposure can cause gradual hearing loss.

"But some aeroplanes do create extremely loud noise. I remember one that measured 102 decibels," Siwichai says.

He manually records the noise caused by passing aeroplanes using equipment provided by his employer, engaged by Suvarnabhumi Airport to measure the noise pollution in the Bang Chalong area.

"I select the recording mode on the equipment when I hear an aeroplane coming. After it flies past, I press a button, and the equipment shows how loud the noise was," the young man explains.

Siwichai also notes down the aeroplanes' engine types and the time at which they pass.

He admits that he sometimes feels stressed from the barrage of noise. When it gets too much to bear, he reads humorous cartoons and listens to MP3 songs on his cell phone.

"It gives me some pleasure, but most of the time I focus on listening to the aeroplanes," he says.

Asked whether he wasn't worried about risking his hearing when taking this job, Siwichai says he did not have much choice.

"I completed only secondary education. In this job I am paid Bt500 a day. I think it's a better opportunity than many people get," he says.

Siwichai started this job on September 28, the day Suvarnabhumi Airport began full commercial operations. However, he started monitoring noise levels from the Bang Chalong Nai Temple only on November 11, after vibrations from passing aeroplanes damaged three of the temple's buildings. The airport authorities had the buildings repaired immediately.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation