Bangkok works proactively to fight PM 2.5, moving forward with the campaign. ‘This car reduces dust’ aims to reduce dust by 15% by February 2024.
Mr. Ekwaranyu Amrapal, Assistant Secretary to the Governor of Bangkok and spokesman for Bangkok Revealing the PM2.5 dust situation in Bangkok that during the period 11-17 Jan. 2024, it is expected that PM2.5 dust values ??will be at the yellow and orange levels. Air quality is starting to have an impact on health.
Bangkok is ready to take action in every way to reduce the amount of dust generated in the Bangkok area. as much as possible and would like to remind the public to use self-protection equipment, such as masks to prevent PM2.5, every time they go outside the building. Limit the amount of time you spend in strenuous outdoor activities or exercise. You should watch for unusual symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and eye irritation. For people in at-risk groups, Use personal protective equipment such as a PM2.5 mask every time you go outside th
e building. Avoid doing outdoor activities or exercise that are very strenuous. Follow the doctor’s advice. If you have any abnormal symptoms, please see a doctor immediatelyA spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also said that From the research, it was found that dust in the Bangkok area is divided into 2 parts: the part that affects Bangkok, which is dust that originates from both inside and outside the Bangkok area, namely dust that originates from outside Bangkok and the surrounding area, 42% dust. 22% from traffic, 16% from open burning, 15% from industrial factories, 4% from road dust, 1% from others. Another study has revealed the source of the dust. Happened in the Bangkok area as follows: diesel cars 57%, secondary dust 16%, open burning 15%, gasoline cars 8%, and others 4%.
For burning in the open air Bangkok has been monitoring hotspots by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency. (Public Organization) and NASA in the past 24 hours and 7 days continuously. What
is worrisome during this period is At the beginning of the year there will be more agricultural biomass burning either in Bangkok or surrounding areas. Bangkok has collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Giving special microorganisms to farmers, which is a special formula that can ferment biomass faster from 30 days to only 7 days, so that people can reduce the amount of rice straw that needs to be burned.
As for the “This car reduces dust” project or campaign for people to change the air filter and engine oil. Currently, more and more partners are joining the project, in addition to the 15 automobile companies and oil companies that participated in the first phase. Currently, there are more car service centers participating in the project. Including department stores, there are various promotions for cars that purchase products. and join projects such as reducing parking fees in department stores, etc. At this time, results of operations and the number of cars participating in the pr
oject are being compiled. Initially, from reporting information on the number of cars participating in the project from one company, it was found that there were 20,000 cars participating in the project, which is considered a large number of people cooperating to join the project. Bangkok will hasten to collect the results of operations and report the results every week. From December 18, 2023 to January 9, 2024, 41,488 cars have participated in the filter replacement project, helping to reduce PM2.5 dust by 2%. The goal is to change the filters of 300,000 cars to help reduce PM2.5 dust. from the traffic sector, 15%
In addition, Bangkok has joined with various agencies to inspect dust sources. The cumulative total from October 1, 2022 – January 9, 2024 is as follows: 348 establishments/factories, inspected 12,212 times, did not pass (ordered to improve) 8 places, 120 cement plants, inspected 1,642 times, did not pass (ordered 17 locations, 525 construction sites, inspected 4806 times, did not pass (ordered t
o improve) 34 locations, 23 landfills/sand ports, inspected 286 times, checked for black smoke in 3,090 places of origin, exceeding the standard. (Ordered to improve) 19 vehicles, 147,021 cars emitting black smoke were detected, 2,282 vehicles were prohibited from being used, 38,028 buses/non-route vehicles were inspected, 120 were prohibited from use, and 97,429 trucks were inspected, 544 were prohibited from use.
People can check air quality information before leaving home. Through the AirBKK application, website www.airbkk.com, www.pr-bangkok.com, Facebook page: Environment Office Bangkok Facebook page: Air Quality and Noise Management Division Environment Bureau and Facebook page: Bangkok, including LINE ALERT and LINE OA @airbangkok. In the event that citizens see a source of pollution, they can report the information via Traffy Fondue. -411-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency