Bangkok: The Pollution Control Department has warned that the PM2.5 dust level is likely to increase throughout the week, especially between January 22-25. This is due to the stagnant and sinking air, relatively low ventilation rates, and data on hotspots showing burning in many areas, as well as transboundary haze.
According to Thai News Agency, the Pollution Control Department's Pollution Control Communication Center (PCC) warns that the PM2.5 dust situation is likely to increase this week, especially on January 22-25, 2025, when the level will affect health (red level) in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Other areas that need to closely monitor the situation include the Northeast, Lower North, and East.
The reason why PM2.5 dust values are higher is because the cold air mass still covers the northern part of Thailand, causing the air to be stagnant, sinking, and creating a closed atmosphere near the surface, resulting in a relatively low ventilation rate, coupled with data on hotspots that still show burning in many areas, including transboundary haze from hotspots that occur in neighboring countries.
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has requested cooperation from relevant agencies to strictly control dust sources to alleviate the severity of the PM2.5 dust situation and its impact on public health, especially at-risk groups, patients, children, the elderly, and pregnant women. The public is asked to take care of their health, reduce outdoor activities, wear masks and protective equipment when leaving the house, follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Public Health, plan work in advance (Work From Home), and if there is burning, notify the government to extinguish the fire and control hotspots. The dust situation can be monitored via the website Air4Thai.pcd.go.th or via the Air4Thai application.