Air pollution
- Health
You should start using air purifiers in Thailand
When air purifiers first started getting mainstream attention, especially after hearing about them more often during the Covid-19 pandemic, I always thought of them as some sort of massive marketing by big corporations to push their product agenda. However, upon researching air purifiers and understanding the reasons for using an air purifier, I discovered that it is indeed good for…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok commits to dust-free classrooms amidst pollution concerns
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has committed to increasing the number of dust-free classrooms within its schools by the end of the year. During a community inspection in Watthana district, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt highlighted the need to address public concerns, particularly those related to environmental and public health issues. The 58 year old Bangkok chief confirmed that 744 out…
- Phuket News
Smoke out: Phuket cracks down on polluters as air crisis worsens
Phuket is turning up the heat on environmental offenders with a major new campaign aimed at tackling the island’s escalating air pollution crisis. In a bold bid to curb forest fires, haze, and PM2.5 dust pollution, the island’s officials have launched a public awareness drive, kicking off with a grand ceremony at the Phuket Provincial Hall, today, February 3, presided…
- Thailand News
Experts have their say on govt’s PM2.5 pollution efforts
The Government of Thailand is intensifying efforts to combat PM2.5 pollution due to concerns over its detrimental effects and a desire for cleaner air, a recurring issue at the start of the year. Numerous provinces have been affected by the fine dust since January, leading to measures such as reducing bushfires and haze, offering free public transport in Bangkok, and…
- Bangkok News
Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis
Critics have blasted the government for allocating 140 million baht to fund free public transport in Bangkok for one week, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money that fails to tackle the root cause of the city’s haze pollution crisis. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra introduced the measure, which began last Saturday, January 25, to combat surging levels of hazardous PM2.5…
- Thailand News
New haze directives to combat deadly pollution in Thailand
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will provide additional directives at a Cabinet meeting today to address the ongoing haze issue, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. The meeting will prioritise PM2.5 pollution, following the prime minister’s return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, over the weekend. She emphasised that the worsening pollution crisis extends beyond national boundaries. The 38…
- Thailand News
PM2.5 pollution targetted with urgent health measures
Thailand is grappling with severe PM2.5 air pollution, prompting the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to issue an urgent directive to local administrative organisations and Bangkok. The directive encourages the use of local health security funds to combat the pollution, including purchasing masks for vulnerable groups. Yesterday, January 26, Doctor Jadej Thammatacharee, Secretary-General of the NHSO, highlighted the worsening PM2.5…
- Lifestyle
Did Apple predict the current air pollution crisis?
Since the dawn of the new year, many provinces across Thailand have been grappling with a severe level of air pollution. As of January 24, Bangkok has been rated the fourth most polluted city in the world in terms of poor air quality by IQAir. The capital is often blanketed by a thick layer of smog, which has reminded some…
- Health
Why you need to wear a mask in Bangkok right now
As anyone who has spent time in Thailand, or other Asian cultures for that matter, I’m sure you have seen people wearing masks while in public in Bangkok. But why? The scare of Covid-19 has now long lost its saliency and fears among the general public have been diminished to a level comparable to a bad cold. Yet we still…
- Thailand News
Thailand locks in on crop burning with strict new measures
Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives announced strict new measures on January 17 to combat the growing PM2.5 air pollution crisis, with a particular focus on penalising farmers for crop burning. Deputy Minister Itthi Sirilatthayakorn signed the announcement, highlighting how agricultural burning has become a major contributor to the country’s deteriorating air quality. The practice generates smoke and fine particulate…
- Environment News
Thailand plans five-year strategy to tackle PM2.5 pollution
Last week a workshop was held in Chiang Mai aimed at developing a five-year plan to combat PM2.5 pollution. The Office of the Science Promotion Commission, along with officials in Chiang Mai held the workshop on January 13 and 14, emphasising a change through research and innovation. Governor Nirat Phongsitthaworn of Chiang Mai highlighted the importance of utilising research to…
- Thailand News
Thailand battles hazardous PM2.5 pollution levels in 28 provinces
Bangkok and 64 out of 76 provinces in Thailand experienced unsafe levels of PM2.5 dust pollution this morning, January 20, with 28 provinces reaching hazardous red levels. Samut Sakhon reported the most severe air pollution. According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), at 9am, PM2.5 levels reached hazardous levels in 28 provinces, with readings between 75.3 and…
- Thai Life
Why is Bangkok’s air quality so bad?
Imagine waking up early in Bangkok and you see all the beautiful morning fog from your balcony, but as you sip your coffee you realise it’s just Bangkok’s air pollution that’s making the sun rise aesthetic. Ranked as the 36th most air-polluted country in the world, Thailand has been facing challenges with air quality as of late. Many factors translate…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok PM2.5 lands Democrat leader’s father in hospital
Suchatvee Suwansawat, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, shared a personal account of the impact of PM2.5 air pollution on his family, highlighting the severity of the issue. Suchatvee revealed that his father had to be rushed to the emergency room due to severe coughing and chest pain. Medical professionals diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the polluted air,…
- Environment News
Breathe easier: 7 tips to combat Thailand’s poor air quality
Thailand’s air quality has become a critical concern more than ever as the country faces recurring episodes of harmful air pollution. Air quality has exceeded an area of slight concern into a significant and detrimental public health issue in the Kingdom, especially in urban areas such as Bangkok, where traffic congestion, industrial activities, and agricultural burning are prevalent. On January…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok police arrest scrap shop owners for pollution offences
Police launched Operation STOP POLLUTION THE SERIES 3, targeting 14 scrap shops in On Nut’s waste alley for releasing foul odours and causing environmental pollution. Police acted on complaints from locals in Phra Khanong, Bangkok, about improper waste management and air pollution issues. The operation, led by police officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NREC), resulted in…
- Thailand News
Bangkok faces alarming PM2.5 pollution spike, 32 districts affected
Bangkok is suffocating under a cloud of smog as PM2.5 pollution levels surge, forcing 32 districts to breach safety thresholds. Satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) casts a spotlight on Nong Khaem, clocking the most dangerous levels at a staggering 61.3 microgrammes per cubic metre. Such pollution spells disaster for our lungs, with the respiratory…
- Thailand News
Pattaya breathes easy: Beach paradise takes fresh air steps
Pattaya, Thailand’s renowned beachside hotspot, is upping its game beyond tourism, making strides to keep the city’s air fresh and clean. With its sandy beaches and buzzing nightlife, Pattaya attracts droves of visitors each year. Now, city officials are ensuring that visitors and residents alike can breathe easy by prioritising air quality. In a bid to tackle pollution head-on, the…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok air pollution spikes as 35 areas exceed safe PM2.5 levels
Bangkok faced a spike in PM2.5 pollution levels, with 35 areas registering unhealthy air quality, prompting swift action from City Hall. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued warnings to help residents mitigate health impacts from the pollutants. PM2.5, or ultra-fine dust particles, exceeded the safe threshold of 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in several areas, according to AirBKK, BMA’s…
- Thailand News
Thailand, Laos, Myanmar launch Clear Sky to combat pollution
In a bid to blow away the blanket of smog smothering Southeast Asia, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar joined forces with a sparkling new initiative: the Clear Sky Strategy 2024-2030. The grand unveiling took place at Bangkok’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, with VIPs Maris Sangiampongsa, Thailand’s top minister, and Chalermchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, leading the…
- Thailand News
From smog to serenity: Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park breathes new life
Bangkok, former home to a sprawling industrial estate, where Thailand’s state-owned tobacco monopoly churned out millions of cigarettes for over half a century, emerges from the smog. Benjakitti Park, an urban oasis, has rapidly become a beloved haven for Bangkok’s 11 million residents. Officially opened in August 2022 to honour Queen Sirikit’s 90th birthday, the now 40-hectare Benjakitti Park boasts…
- Thailand News
House committee to strategise on industrial accident prevention
The House Committee on Industry is set to convene tomorrow to deliberate on strategies for preventing industrial accidents. This move follows a series of recent warehouse and factory fires, with the most recent one occurring last week at Map Ta Phut Tank Terminal (MTT) in Rayong. Kamonthas Kittisoonthornsakul, a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP for Rayong and deputy chair of…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai battles with deteriorating air quality due to wildfires
Chiang Mai is currently grappling with deteriorating air quality caused by a surge in wildfires throughout the region. This concerning situation has positioned the province among cities with the most compromised air quality worldwide, as it contends with dense smog enveloping its downtown area daily for the past month. In a recent report by the Wildfire and Pollution Control Command…
- Thailand News
Dust distress: Thailand choked by PM2.5 air pollution surge
Air pollution levels in parts of Thailand have surged into the red-coded category, indicating serious health risks. Particularly hard hit was Chiang Mai, where excessive PM2.5 dust levels were detected on today, April 4. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that 21 provinces were grappling with dangerous PM2.5 particulate levels – fine airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometres…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai crowned world’s most polluted as smog crisis worsens
Chiang Mai recently ascended to an undesirable top spot on the global stage as it experiences severe air pollution, making it the most polluted city in the world. The air quality in this northern Thai city has reached levels that pose significant health risks due to the pervasive spread of PM2.5 particles. At 3am today, March 15, the air quality…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai faces world’s second-worst air quality amid pollution crisis
Northern Thailand is currently grappling with severe air pollution, with Chiang Mai experiencing the second-worst air quality globally. As of today, March 8, air quality monitoring has revealed that particulate matter PM2.5 levels have exceeded the standard in 46 provinces, prompting health warnings and advisories for residents to limit outdoor activities. PM2.5 concentrations surpassed Thailand’s safety standards in various regions,…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai now world’s third most polluted city
Chiang Mai ranks as the third most polluted city globally amid a severe air quality crisis in northern Thailand, with particulate matter (PM)2.5 levels surging due to widespread forest fires. The situation, which peaked today, March 7, has triggered health concerns and advisories. Northern Thailand is grappling with a significant air pollution crisis. Today, the Air Pollution Crisis Resolution Centre…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai hits highest air pollution levels in Thailand
Air pollution has reached critical levels in the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand, with 36 provinces reporting particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations exceeding the safe standard, according to a recent report from the Air Pollution Control Department (APCD) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The province of Chiang Rai recorded the highest levels in the country. Over the…
- Environment News
Bangkok’s air quality improves as PM2.5 levels drop
Bangkok’s populace can anticipate a breath of fresh air in the forthcoming week as the levels of PM2.5 pollutants are projected to undergo a downswing. AirBKK, the Air Quality Monitoring Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), confirmed on a Sunday morning that the PM2.5 concentrations in the capital city were well below the 24-hour safe exposure threshold, which is…
- Thailand News
Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
