The Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department has been asked to be ready to carry out cloud seeding once the weather is suitable for the operation to help ease the worsening air pollution in and around Bangkok.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, meanwhile, has reportedly ordered all the district offices in the city to clean up roads on daily basis and, at the same time, to send water trucks to spray water into the air to reduce fine dust particles and to strictly check car emissions and construction sites.

Blaming close weather with cloudy sky, morning fog and stale air, the Pollution Control Department reported today that air quality in 19 areas close to the roads is health threatening with the amount of PM2.5 dust particles ranging from 63-96 microgram/cubic metre against the standard level of 50 mg/cum.

Air pollution levels in some of the 19 roadside areas are as follows:  Kanchanapisek road in Bang Khun Thian district, 86 mg/cum; Rama II road in Muang district of Samut Sakhon, 80 mg/cum; Lat Phrao Chokechai 4 in Wang Thong Lang district, 71 mg/cum; Din Daeng road, 82 mg/cum; Rama III road in Yan Na Wa district, 86 mg/cum; Phahonyothin road in Chatuchak district, 96 mg/cum; Rama III-Charoen Krung road in Bang Khor Laem district, 92 mg/cum; Narathiwat road in Bang Rak district, 78 mg/cum.

Air quality in 17 other areas which are further away from roads also starts to pose health threat, with the amount of PM2.5 particulate ranging from 56-99 mg/cum, said the department, adding that the air quality in and around Bangkok tomorrow will remain health hazardous.

Some of the 17 areas further away from roads with excessive dust particles are as follows:  Bang Na, 63 mg/cum; Klong Chan, 60 mg/cum; Om Noi in Krathum Ban district of Samut Sakhon, 75 mg/cum; Tambon Klong 1, Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani, 71 mg/cum; Tambon Nakhon Pathom of Nakhon Pathom’s Muang district, 99mg/cum and Klong Toey, 81 mg/cum.