The Royal Thai Police are taking measures to tackle the sources of air pollution in areas with poor air quality and to counter PM2.5. PM2.5 is particulate matter that has a diameter of under 2.5 microns.
Bangkok suffered under a cloud of smog and ultra-fine dust in February 2018 and 2019. The Pollution Control Department issued warnings that levels had reached up to 94 micrograms per cubic meter of air in some areas. That’s almost double the safe limit, which is 50 mcg.
Nearly 90% of dangerous particles in the air in and around Bangkok come from factories, biomass burning, vehicle exhaust, and dust from construction sites.
Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanajaroen, deputy police, said:
National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered deputy chief Pol General Suwat Jaengyodsuk to be the central administrator of these measures. They are to be enforced at traffic routes, industrial factories, construction sites, and burnt crop fields where the PM2.5 comes from nationwide.
The anti-PM 2.5 measures enrolled by the Thai police are listed below:
- Coordinate with contractors of road construction to restore traffic lanes as quickly as possible after construction is finished to lessen traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.
- Increased thoroughness and frequency of emissions inspections on routes around major cities, particularly Bangkok and its surrounding provinces.
- Random inspections at distribution centers, public bus and van terminals, and at businesses that use multiple trucks.
- Coordinate with agencies to apply regulations against industrial pollution as well as illegal burning of forests, crop fields, and garbage.
- Ensure that no one blocks traffic by parking their cars on the sides of main roads, thus, increasing emissions.
- Improve traffic movement to reduce congestion.
- Discourage vehicle owners from parking with their engine on and encourage them to check their vehicles’ condition regularly.
Furthermore, the police will be working with private partners to distribute free surgical masks for road users in regions with poor air quality throughout Bangkok.
