Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has repeated his appeal for motorists to use public transport instead, to reduce PM2.5 airborne pollution, the level of which exceeds the safe threshold in many parts of the capital again today.
The governor said that the city administration has been implementing numerous measures throughout this year to ease air pollution, including a campaign to encourage 200,000 motorists to change the oil and air filters in their cars, adding that the campaign will be continued next year, targeting another 300,000 cars.
Low emission zones have been enforced, under which trucks are not allowed within the Ratchadapisek and Kanchanapisek inner ring roads, said the governor, adding that 4,000 trucks, out of a target of 10,000, have registered for inclusion on the ‘Green List’ with replaced oil and air filters.
Moreover, he disclosed that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which is currently working with the Department of Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation in cloud-seeding operations to keep dust down, will expand its cooperation to include the Royal Thai Force.
According to the BMA’s Air Quality Information Centre, 28 areas of Bangkok have PM2.5 dust in excess of the 37.5µg/m³ safe level, with the worst area being Nong Khaem, measured at 56.4µg/m³.
Some of the most polluted areas are:
· Khlong San district, 47.7µg/m³
· Sanam Luang 2 in Thawee Wattana district, 47.6µg/m³
· Bangkok Noi district, in front of the railway station, 47.4µg/m³
· Phasi Charoen district in front of Siam University, 47.2µg/m³
· Wang Thong Lang district, 46.1µg/m³
· Khlong Sam Wa district, 44.9µg/m³
· Thon Buri district, 44.5µg/m³
