Bangkok battles air pollution for fifth consecutive day

Smog seen at the Skytrain station construction site in Pathum Thani’s Khu Khot area on Monday morning.

Bangkok and areas in its vicinity continued to be in the grip of air pollution for the fifth straight day on Monday.
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported that the amount of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in 19 roadside areas exceeded the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre, while nine other places had levels that could negatively impact health. 
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuangm, meanwhile, said city authorities continued to undertake measures to reduce dust particles. He said all the 50 district offices had dispatched workers to spray water and wash roads at risky spots, including the area in front of Din Daeng Police Station, which is among the worst-hit.
The PCD said weather conditions and lack of winds had partially contributed to the surge of dust. Areas reporting PM2.5 beyond safety levels included Kanchanaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thien district, Khlong Chan area in Bang Kapi district, Intharapitak Road in Thon Buri district, Lat Phrao Road in Wang Thong Lang district, Din Daeng Road in Din Daeng district, Tambon Nakhon Pathom in the Muang district of Nakhon Pathom province, Tambon Song Khanong in the Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan province, Tambon Bang Sao Thong in Samut Prakan’s Bang Sao Thong district, and Rama II Road in the Muang district of Samut Sakhon province.
The PCD warned that the air quality may continue to pose a threat to public health on Tuesday and urged people to stay indoors or wear N95-rated face masks if they go out. 
It urged cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke to stay off the roads while people should avoid lighting fires outdoors. People can follow air-quality updates via the phone application “Air4thai” or the website http://air4thai.pcd.go.th.
BMA Governor Aswin said the city’s measure to spray water and wash roads since Friday night had led to some improvement with dust particle levels dropping at six locations as of Monday morning – Wang Thong Lang district saw its reading fall from 97 micrograms per cubic metre to 70; Bang Khor Laem district saw its reading fall sharply from 103 micrograms to 55, and the reading in Thon Buri district fell from 99 micrograms to 65. He said city workers would keep implementing the measure until the dust particle levels returned to the safe limits.