A majority of people in Bangkok and surrounding provinces have taken measures to protect themselves from hazardous PM2.5 dust particles, mostly by wearing pollution masks, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration,or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted on Feb 5-6 on 1,261 people of various levels of education and occupations in Bangkok and surrounding provinces hit by hazardous PM2.5 dust.
A majority of the respondents, 75.42%, said they had taken measures to protect themselves while 24.58% said they had not done anything.
Most of those who had not taken any action, 69.68%, said they were not affected by the dust; 32.26% said their homes or offices were not affected by the dust; 7.10% said they were strong and healthy with "high immunity"; and 0.32% said they couldn't afford to do anything about it.
Of those who had taken measures to protect themselves, 91.93% said they wore dust masks; 11.57% closed the doors and windows of their homes; 5.42% refrained from outdoor exercise; 4.22% used fans and air filters; 3.61% had their air-conditioners cleaned; and 1.93% kept the windows and doors of their air-conditioned rooms closed.
Asked what expenses they had incurred to protect themselves from the dust, 56.26% said they had spent less than 500 baht; 5.78% between 501-1,000 baht; 0.95% between 1,001-1,500 baht; 1.05% between 1,501-2,000 baht; and 2.73% over 2,000 baht. The rest, 33.23%, said they had not spent anything.
Asked what the government should do to cope with the problem, 45.12% said construction projects should be halted; 20.30% said diesel-powered vehicles should be temporarily banned; 11.82% said industrial factories should be temporarily closed; 7.61% suggested that rain-making operations be carried out more extensively; 7.14% said laws should be strictly enforced against gross-polluting vehicles and people burning grass and forests for cultivation or construction; 6.18% wanted the government to distribute dust masks; 1.67% were uncertain; and 0.16% had no comment.
A majority of the respondents, 64.15%, said the hazardous dust problem should be made the most urgent priority on the government agenda; 31.88% wanted it to be treated seriously; 3.81% said the matter is of little urgency; and 0.16 said it is not urgent at all.
