AIR POLLUTION in Bangkok was worse than in any northern province yesterday, as the level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the capital and nearby provinces rebounded to a harmful level.
Data from Pollution Control Department
(PCD) monitoring stations in Bangkok showed that air quality in the city
was very unhealthy yesterday morning. PM2.5 levels increased to more
than 100 micrograms per cubic metre of air at all of the capital’s
monitoring stations.
The highest record of hourly PM2.5 level in Bangkok was in Thon Buri
district at 6am of 120.92mg, while the country’s highest PM2.5 level of
the day was measured at Samut Sakhon at its peak of 175.17 mg at 9am.
The levels of pollution in Bangkok were considered to be very harmful,
as the measurement at every station was far higher than the country’s
PM2.5 daily average safe limit at 50 micrograms.
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According to PM2.5 daily average level from the PCD, air quality at Thon
Buri district was the poorest in Bangkok at 103.49 micrograms,
following by Pathumwan District (88.08 micrograms), Wang Thonglang
District (85.23 micrograms), and Bang Na District (84.99 micrograms).
However, it was noticed that the PM2.5 daily average in Bangkok as
reported on the PCD’s official Facebook page was lower than the
real-time air quality data from PCD website at
aqmthai.com/public_report.php, because the PM2.5 level as of 8am at
every air-monitoring station was in the range of 64 to 79 micrograms.
The PCD informed that the higher levels of air pollution in Bangkok were
the result of calm winds and high moisture in the air, which caused an
accumulation of particulate matter to the dangerous level. Vulnerable
people, including patients with respiratory diseases, old people and
children, were advised to avoid going outside during this period.
Meanwhile, the smog problem in the Northern region has lessened, even
though the PM2.5 level of many Northern provinces was still higher than
the recommended safe standard.
The highest PM2.5 daily average record in the North was at Lampang’s Mae
Mo district at 72.64 micrograms, following by Tak’s Mae Sot district at
64.29 micrograms, and Chiang Mai at 55.15 micrograms.
The PM2.5 daily average in Samut Sakhon (116.98 micrograms), Samut
Prakan (94.23 micrograms), Ratchaburi (86.67 micrograms), Kanchanaburi
(65.03 micrograms), and Prachinburi (64.4 micrograms) were also found to
have broken the safe limit.
Source - TheNation
