Bangkok:
Air pollution in Bangkok and neighboring Thai provinces spiked past safe levels on Thursday, prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
The concentration of tiny and dangerous airborne particles known as PM2.5 in the capital was 14 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), making it the sixth worst in the world, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality organization . tracking platform.
The country’s pollution control department said “stagnant weather conditions” exacerbated vehicle emissions and seasonal fires on farmlands.
“We need to step up (efforts to tackle pollution) by encouraging people to work from home. For schools…they may need to avoid outdoor activities to avoid impacts on children’s health,” said the director-general of the department at a press conference.
Residents complained of poor visibility and breathing difficulties.
“I feel my eyes burning. I can hardly see when I have to ride a motorcycle against the wind,” said Kanjanaporn Yampikul, a 51-year-old motorcycle taxi driver.
The WHO recommends that average annual measurements of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter after changing its guidelines last year, saying that even low concentrations pose significant health risks. The level in Bangkok and the surrounding area is currently 70.5 micrograms per cubic meter.
According to WHO, exposure to outdoor air pollution is estimated to lead to 4.2 million premature deaths each year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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