Air pollution expected to remain hazardous to health in several regions next month
PUBLISHED: 21 Jan 2025 at 19:44
The Ministry of Public Health does introduce urging citizens across the country to work from home next year, after levels of PM2. 5 fine sand pollution exceeded healthy levels in almost every state on Tuesday, with the worst recorded in Greater Bangkok.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said the government would organize a conference on Wednesday to construct methods to deal with the growing problems.
Suggested strategies include a global work-from-home plan, which will be proposed to the cabinet meeting next month.
Mr Somsak believes that if government companies adopt the plan, the private sector may follow match.
He cited a study from the University of Chicago that determined that prolonged exposure to PM2. 5 degrees exceeding 37. 5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³ ) can shorten a person’s life expectancy by about a year.
With rates this time projected to be high, citizens are urged to use N95 masks for maximum protection, the secretary said.
According to data collected by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ) on Tuesday, critically unhealthy PM2. 5 rates were recorded across Bangkok.
The worst-hit area, Nong Khaem, recorded a levels 146. 5µg/m³.
With unsafe levels in the capital expected to persist over the next few days, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) has introduced three key measures.
The first one is working from home. City Hall previously recommended it for the first two weeks of the week but it may be extended to Friday if large waste rates persist.
According to the BMA, about 200 companies and 100,000 people had adopted work-from-home provisions, which helped reduce customers by 8 % when they were adopted next year.
Another measure is the designation of low-emission zones ( LEZs ). As part of this, cars with six or more tires are banned from the Ratchadaphisek location when purple levels of PM2. 5 are recorded and are expected to remain high for at least the two following nights.
Exceptions include electronic cars, natural gas cars and cars registered on the Green List.
The next measure involves the temporary closing of BMA colleges, with four schools having today transitioned to web courses.
The Pollution Control Department has warned that air excellent global will probably be impoverished until Friday due to sluggish air and agrarian burning.
The most recent information showed illegal PM2. 5 degrees in 70 of 77 counties. Greater Bangkok is the most affected, with located Samut Sakhon recording the highest degree at 144. 8.
Just seven provinces— Phangnga, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son — reported sand rates lower than the government’s healthy level of 37. 5.