The poor air quality stemming mainly from a high volume of hazardous fine dust particles in Bangkok and surrounding provinces will persist Monday, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) says.
Several parts of the capital, particularly at Suvarnabhumi airport, were shrouded in haze Sunday morning, as depicted in photos posted on the social media.
At one point at 10.30am Sunday, Greenpeace Thailand tweeted that Bangkok ranked the ninth worst city on Earth for air quality, citing a ranking by www.airvisual.com which updates around the clock. The city with the worst air quality was New Delhi.
The PCD confirmed the volume of PM2.5 pollutants exceeded the safety standard in several parts of Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Sakhon.
In Bangkok, the volume of the fine dust particles reached a level considered as having a negative impact on health in 35 areas in Bang Khunthian, Bang Na, Bang Kapi, Din Daeng, Pathumwan, Thon Buri, Phaya Thai and Wang Thong Lang districts. The highest volume of fine dust particles was measured in Bang Khun Thian district.
A 35-second dashcam video of a drive towards Bangkok Sunday morning illustrated the smog dramatically. (Twitter/@Chuek_Chot)
With the weather humid and with no wind, the poor air quality is expected to last until Monday. The department said it was working with City Hall and the provinces to carry out measures aimed at curbing dust particles.
The measures include washing roads every day, getting tough on cars belching black fumes, and inspecting construction sites to ensure they keep the level of dust-generating activities low.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration environment office director Chatri Watthanakhechon said a team will monitor the air quality situation in all 50 districts and curb activities that may exacerbate the fine dust particle situation such as rubbish or grass burning.