Dust particles of less than 2.5 microns, which blanketed Bangkok and its peripherals and threatened people’s health late last year, have returned to parts of the capital this morning (Saturday).

The Pollution Control Department reported that, at 8am, air quality monitoring devices showed PM2.5 readings in Bangkok and its peripherals of between 28-62 micrograms/cubic metre, with the particulate matter exceeding the 50 microns safety level in Sathorn, Phasi Charoen, Bang Sue, Bang Khen, Laksi and Bang Phlad and Muang district of Samut Prakan.

The department attributed the worsening air quality to a high pressure cell, which is covering most parts of the country.

The department advised small children, pregnant women, the aged and ailing people to stay indoors or to wear face masks if they have to leave their homes.

People can keep themselves informed with real-time air quality updates by logging onto the department’s website, air4thai, or via the Air4Tha application.

The prolonged haze problem affected Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces, such as Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Sakhon, for several months late last year. Many people were forced to wear face masks when they were outdoors and schools were ordered closed for several days by the Ministry of Education as the level of PM2.5 far exceeded the 50-micron level.

At the height of the haze problem, water sprays were employed to get rid of the fine dust particles and a fleet of aircraft conducted cloud-seeding operations to ease the pollution problem.