Bangkok air gets even worse on Tuesday
Greater Bangkok’s air pollution was severe on Tuesday morning, with 36 locations reporting the amount of PM2.5 (inhalable particles with diameters sized at 2.5 micrometres or smaller) rising beyond the safety limit of 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air, with one area reaching as high as 113 micrograms.
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) said the situation in all areas with high PM2.5 levels has to be "might not improve" in the afternoon in the event of a breeze.
The breeze is too low to blow the dust away, but just enough to stir up dust toe make the affected are worsen in the afternoon on Tuesday.
The PCD daily PM2.5 update noted that at 7am, the worst air in the city was a roadside spot on Rama II in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district, which was flagged code-red with a reading of 113 micrograms. The next highest monitoring machine was a Kanchanapisek roadside spot in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thien district at 75 micrograms, followed by a Rama II roadside spot in Bang Khunthien at 74 micrograms.
Other areas reporting beyond-safe levels of PM2.5 included the Rama III-Charoenkrung roadside spot in Bangkok’s Bang Kho Laem district (71 micrograms), the tambon Song Khanong area of Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district (70 micrograms), and the tambon Nakhon Pathom of Nakhon Pathom’s Muang district (70 micrograms). As well, tambon Bang Sao Thong of Samut Prakan’s Bang Sao Thong district (69 micrograms), and tambon Om Noi of Samut Sakhon’s Krathum Ban district (69 micrograms) were just under 70 micrograms.
The PCD urged people to refrain from using vehicles emitting dark exhaust, avoid outdoor burning, and reduce their use of personal cars. Those with health sensitivities, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illness should seek medical attention if they experience anything abnormal.
People can get updates on air quality via the website air4thai.pcd.go.th and the phone app “air4thai”.