Thai restaurants create PM 2.5 dust-free rooms for safer dining
The Department of Health has announced that over 234 restaurants in nine provinces have established PM 2.5 dust-free rooms, offering a safer environment for patrons. This initiative aims to alleviate health concerns amid rising pollution levels.
Doctor Amporn Benjapolphithak, Director General of the Department of Health, under the Ministry of Public Health, yesterday, January 29, stated that the initiative is a response to persistent high levels of particulate matter that pose health risks to the public. The department has been promoting dust-free rooms as an alternative community space, previously implementing them in healthcare facilities nationwide.
All major hospitals now have these rooms, with plans to extend them to community and subdistrict health-promoting hospitals. Efforts are also focused on childcare centres, schools, and community gathering spots.
A recent collaboration between the Department of Health and the Restaurant Operators Association underscores a shared commitment to social responsibility. Restaurants, as part of the community, are encouraged to become dust-free zones, offering relaxation and assurance for customers.
This initiative also enhances the reputation of Thai restaurants, attracting tourists with not only the taste of Thai cuisine but also the assurance of quality.
Doctor Thiti Sawangtham, Deputy Director General of the Department of Health, reported that currently, 234 restaurants and eateries across nine provinces have opened dust-free areas. Additional training was recently conducted at Phoenix Shopping Center for more than 50 establishments in Bangkok and its vicinity.
Expansion efforts are underway, with similar training planned for Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok, aiming to increase the number of dust-free restaurants to over 20,000 within three months. Interested parties can contact the Department of Health at 1478, or the Restaurant Operators Association nationwide.
Naina Chaitiamwong, director of the Health Impact Assessment Division, explained that dust-free rooms involve adapting existing rooms in homes or buildings to prevent and manage dust.
Key principles include preventing external dust from entering, minimising dust accumulation on walls, surfaces, and materials, eliminating dust particles inside the room, and avoiding dust-generating activities like incense burning or smoking.
Choosing a dust-free room involves selecting a room away from roads or construction sites, with minimal doors and windows, removing dust-collecting items, and cleaning with damp cloths. The use of air conditioners, air purifiers, and PM 2.5 monitors can enhance the quality of these rooms, reported KhaoSod.
Residents can find more information on the dust-free room website or contact the Department of Health hotline at 1478 during office hours.
Latest Thailand News
