BMA explains “stinky” chemical cocktail

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) made it clear yesterday that a nasty odor that was found in many areas of the capital last night was the result of a sudden change in weather and chemical reactions involving air pollutants.

After some people complained about a losing taste and dust blanketing the town on Wednesday night, Pornphrom Vikitsreth, an assistant to Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt, made the remarks.

Mr. Pornphrom claimed that the weather had changed and was entering from the west rather than the Gulf of Thailand as normal.

Over the past 24 hrs, numerous dust areas have also been found in nearby counties.

He claimed that the varying environment, made worse by storms and high air pressure from the Northeast, contributed to the increase in dirt accumulation.

This was compounded by the great moisture, which exacerbated the level of PM2.5 waste derived from n and ammonia, Mr Pornphrom said.

He claimed that the haze was even good brought on by gases like nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, which have been a problem for a while and have since become dust.

In flame processes, nitrogen dioxide is produced primarily from n compounds in energy but mostly by a strong combination of meteorological oxygen and nitrogen in flames, while sulfur dioxide is produced by coal, fuel, metal-smelting facilities, and oil refineries.

When it hits the oxygen, nitrogen oxides turns into a more hazardous reddish-brown nitrogen dioxide gas, irritating the eyes, nose, and throat, he continued.

At midnight on Wednesday, the risk of PM2.5 fine dust increased significantly in 47 districts of Bangkok, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ).

Don Muang peaked at 143.5 microgrammes per cubic metre, followed by Laksi ( 143 µg/m³ ), Bang Sue ( 139 µg/m³ ), Chatuchak ( 128.1 µg/m³ ) and Phaya Thai ( 127 µg/m³ ).

In a number of additional Central Region provinces, high dirt levels were also found.