KUALA LUMPUR – Residents in Bangkok have been advised to work from home and put on masks when outdoors as air pollution worsens in the Thai capital city.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said in a statement yesterday that residents are also advised to make use of public transportation instead of personal vehicles.
However, schools will remain open for now.
Authorities are also looking into controlling activities such as outdoor burning and construction, reported Bloomberg.
While Bangkok’s PM2.5 level is currently considered moderate, according to AirVisual, it is expected to hit unhealthy levels from today onwards.
Chadchart said authorities will also “intensively monitor” air pollution levels in the city until the end of next month as it is expected to improve in March.
“I would like to ask people to be prepared by checking pollution levels before planning a trip. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pollution Department will control sources of dust and ask for cooperation in activities that generate dust such as construction sites or truck transportation.”
Agricultural burning and forest fires are a major cause of air pollution in Thailand, especially between December and April.
Bangkok has also been struggling with air pollution due to its manufacturing and construction activities as well as heavy traffic. – The Vibes, January 26, 2023
