Air pollution in and around Bangkok reaches dangerous level on Thursday

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) plans to step up air quality control measures in Bangkok and its suburbs after pollution in 14 areas reached the health-threatening “red level”, with the amount of PM2.5 dust in the atmosphere being measured this morning (Thursday) at 90-139 microns.

According to the Air4Thai webpage of the PCD today, PM2.5 is more than double the 50-micron standard level in 30 areas. The most polluted area is along the Kanchanapisek Road in Bang Khun Thian district, where the level was measured at 139 microns, followed by 131 microns at the Samut Prakan provincial hall in Paknam sub-district.

Several schools in Bangkok are flying red flags and have informed students to wear face masks and to refrain from out-door activities.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said yesterday that the city administration has not ordered all the municipal schools under its supervision to suspend classes today or tomorrow, but has advised school directors to instruct their students to wear face masks while in school, to suspend all out-door activities or to stay home on a voluntary basis if their houses are safer.

Other steps adopted by the BMA to deal with the PM2.5 problem include encouraging employers, especially big companies, to allow their staff to work from home and stricter control of dust at construction sites. Health officials from the BMA’s 69 health centres are to distribute face masks to members of the public and advise people to take care of their health and monitor for symptoms.

Some of the areas which are classified as “orange” and “red” zones today, due to the high concentration of PM2.5 particulate include: