Thailand Prime Minister urges residents to wear face masks in Bangkok

Thailand’s prime minister urged residents of Bangkok to wear face masks on Monday after smog covered parts of capital in what some fear is a harbinger of more pollution to come. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha warned in a statement on his Facebook p that concentration of tiny dust particles called PM2.5 in air h reached unsafe levels and said he has ordered government ncies to expedite anti-pollution measures. He also asked construction and manufacturing sectors to reduce activities that release pollutants. Smog levels are expected to stay high for next two or three days.

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't caused by smoke originating from forest fires'

he of country’s Pollution Control Department, Pralong Damrongthai, said visibly dirty air was t caused by smoke originating from forest fires in Indonesia. Since last month, haze blown by monsoon winds from fires in Indonesia has affected nearby countries including Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and parts of sourn Thailand, raising concerns about aviation safety and health. Indonesian officials say y have me progress in containing fires, including successful efforts at rainmaking, which y say reduced number of fire “hotspots” from more than 5,000 about two weeks ago to 491 on Sunday. Thailand’s Pralong told Thai PBS television that problem in Bangkok is due to still air and high humidity becoming loed with ultrafine dust from vehicle emissions, construction sites and or pollutants. He said it was n trapped close to ground by a blanket of warm air in what meteorologists call an inversion.

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Or countries have lower limits of safe level

Thailand’s government has set a safe level of 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air, although or countries have lower limits. Pollution Control Department’s website put Monday’s level as high as 79 micrograms. PM2.5 particulates are small eugh to be sucked deep into lungs and enter bloodstream, and can cause respiratory problems and may raise risks of cardiovascular disease and cancers. It’s second time this year Bangkok has been blanketed with a cocktail of pollutants. Smog levels also spiked back in January.

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Pralong ackwledged pollution levels might shoot up again in January and February, during dry season, when farmers burn fields to make way for new planting, ar factor that contributes to problem. He said his department and or units are preparing more stringent measures to better handle problem than earlier this year. As xious smog settled over Bangkok, many residents fished out masks from drawers and went about ir business. “A lot of my friends are saying y come to office, ir ses are running. ir eyes really hurt. All of m are really coughing today. It’s t rmal anymore,” said Piyavathara Natthana, an office worker who was wearing a mask. “re’s t much we can do. We have to monitor news and protect ourselves,” said Chakrapong Sanguanjit, ar Bangkok resident walking downtown with a mask on. Some environmentalists blamed government for failing to act fast eugh, despite being well aware of issues. “ cause of problem is same. sources of pollution are same. But measures to control sources of pollution are t implemented yet because y said that takes time,” said Tara Buakamsri of environmental group Greenpeace.

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