Bangkok residents brace for air-pocalypse

BANGKOK: Residents in Bangkok, one of the world’s top tourist destinations, were warned that the city’s air quality had hit dangerous levels just days after the country’s pollution control agency appealed to residents to wear face masks.

Air pollution in the Thai capital has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with residents complaining of smog and respiratory problems.

Some schools were closed yesterday or kept children indoors.

Air Quality Index (AQI) formulas usually include up to six main pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ground level ozone.

“The Pollution Control Department would like to report the situation of PM2.5 dust in the Bangkok Metropolitan area on Feb 8. At 1200 hours it was measured at 7295 micrograms per m3. Dust is likely to increase in all areas,” the Pollution Control Department warned.

That compares with a World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms. PM 2.5 is a mixture of liquid droplets and solid particles that can include dust, dirt, soot and smoke.

The AQI in central Bangkok area as measured by the Pollution Control Department on Thursday at 1.30pm showed a 135 AQI or “unhealthy” level.

The Air4Thai mobile phone application, which shows Pollution Control Department readings, does not factor in PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter that pose the greatest risk to human health. — Reuters