"air pollution"

The National Environment Board on Tuesday tightened safe standards for particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) in a bid to prevent further impact on people’s health.

High PM2.5 levels are forecast in Bangkok and its vicinity as well as the North and Northeast from Thursday to Saturday (April 21-23).

With PM2.5 hitting unsafe levels in 49 provinces on Monday morning, The Nation offers 10 methods to protect yourself against the health impacts of air pollution.

PM2.5 levels that have soared above the safe limit in Bangkok and adjacent provinces will fall during the Songkran holiday this week, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) predicts.

Air quality in 45 provinces across Thailand hit unsafe levels on Sunday morning, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation reported.

Intense burning of farm waste in neighbouring countries and the direction of the wind will possibly worsen air pollution in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, a local social-media celebrity warned on Saturday.

The government insisted it was tackling dangerous PM2.5 smog as part of the national agenda on Thursday, two days after being sued over pollution levels in Thailand.

Environmental groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against three government agencies – the Industry Ministry, National Resources and Environment Ministry and National Environmental Board (NEB) – accusing them of failing to protect citizens’ right to clean air.

A forest fire was sparked in three areas behind the Baan Phuthadol Resort in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district on Sunday, and another near the Mae Surin Forest Fire Control Station in Khun Yuam district.

Air quality in 45 areas around Bangkok and its vicinity descended to unsafe levels on Thursday morning, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation reported.

The PM2.5 dust level exceeded the standard value in 20 Bangkok areas on Wednesday and might affect some people’s health, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Air Quality website reported.

With cool-to-cold weather upon us and changing air pressure as well as more people travelling, the dust problem is returning, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday after a meeting with the Committee on Occupational Disease Control and Environmental Diseases.