More than 650,000 people have received medical treatment for illnesses caused by air pollution since the beginning of this year, particularly related to PM2.5, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
Of these, more than 300,000 had respiratory diseases, about 80,000 heart and brain diseases, over 110,000 eye infections and irritations and over had 140,000 skin infections.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says he was shocked when he learned that about two million tonnes of sugarcane were burned before being harvested in Suphan Buri and Lop Buri provinces.
Burning of sugarcane and other farm waste contribute to the accumulation of PM2.5 in the atmosphere.
In his “X” post last night, the prime minister said, however, that burning of sugarcane before harvesting is expected to reduce by 28%, which is better than the last harvest, but it still contributes to the PM2.5 problem.
He stressed the need to step up campaigns and introduce more incentives to encourage cane farmers to stop the practice.
Cane farmers prefer burning because it makes it easier to cut the cane. It is also cheaper than using machinery. Burned sugarcane, however, will fetch lower prices, because the burning reduces its sweetness.
The prime minister also urged sugar millers to encourage farmers to stop burning, adding that he will invite them for a meeting to discuss the problem, as there is still a lot of sugarcane in other provinces which has not yet been harvested.
