Air quality in Greater Bangkok improved slightly on Saturday with levels of toxic dust reduced in most locations, but they remain above safe levels on five main roads.
The Pollution Control Department on Friday reported that the levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) fell by 18 microgrammes per cubic metre of air on average in most areas in Bangkok and vicinity, with readings ranging from 31 to 60mcg during the past 24 hours.
Dangerous levels of PM2.5 dust were reported at five air-quality monitoring stations, exceeding the safe threshold set at 50mcg.
The five areas with unsafe dust levels were Kanchanphisek Road in Bang Khun Thian district (52), Lat Phrao Soi 95 off Lat Phrao Road in Wang Thong Lang (55), Rama III-Charoen Krung roads in Bang Kho Laem (57), Phahon Yothin Road in Bang Khen (60), and Charan Sanitwong Road in Bang Phlat (54).
- Commentary: Bangkok 'airpocalypse'
About 2,500 factories in Bangkok and surrounding provinces will launch a “Big Cleaning Day” campaign from Monday to Wednesday to clean their workplaces and improve the efficiency of machinery so that dust and emissions are reduced.
Of those factories, 1,300 have agreed to cooperate with authorities to reduce dust emissions. Some factories will temporarily stop operations on Feb 4-6 and some will reduce production capacity by 30% at night, Thai media reported.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, meanwhile, has appealed to drivers of diesel-fuelled vehicles to use them only if absolutely necessary.
The Royal Thai Air Force on Saturday deployed two BT-67 planes from Wing 46 in Phitsanulok to spray water in the Chatuchak and Suk Sawat areas in the hope of clearing away some dust particles.
The planes made two sorties above Chatuchak in the morning and two more passes were planned above Suk Sawat Road in the afternoon.
The air force from Jan 15-19 deployed aircraft to reduce dust around the Don Mueang airbase, Chatuchak, Fortune Town shopping mall, Ratchadaphisek Road and the Kaset intersection. Teams of doctors and nurses were also dispatched to give health advice to people and distribute face masks.
