The western province of Ratchaburi is the latest province to be affected by PM2.5 dust particles to the extent that the provincial public disaster prevention and mitigation office has issued an order banning the burning of trash, grass and other vegetations.
Bangkok and five other neighboring provinces, namely Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon, have been experiencing smog from PM2.5 dust particles for the past two weeks with no signs that the health hazard will ease in the foreseeable future.
Ratchaburi provincial governor Chayavuth Chanthorn yesterday issued an order in his capacity as head of the public disaster prevention and mitigation office instructing all local governments to inform people in their jurisdiction not to burn garbage or any vegetations in the open.
Violators are warned that they may face a fine of not exceeding 2,000 baht.
The governor said that smog in the district township has started to pose health hazard and he had requested cloud-seeding to be conducted in the province with the hope that the arrival of rain would ease the smog problem.
The Region 8 environment office reported yesterday that PM2.5 dust particles in the Muang district were measured at 98 microns which have exceeded the standard level of 50 microns.
In response to the smog problem, local governments in the province sent out water trucks to clean up dusty roads and to spray water.
