Two Months Addressing PM2.5 Dust Problem in Thailand

 <\/p>

Two Months Addressing PM2.5 Dust Problem in Thailand <\/span><\/strong><\/p>

             Since late December 2018, after the Pollution Control Department reported that PM2.5 dust levels exceeded standards in several areas of Bangkok and its vicinity, it has been about two months dealing with the PM2.5 pollution that has obscured the vibrancy of Bangkok. TerraBKK<\/span> <\/strong>has been following the measures taken to address the PM2.5 dust problem by various government agencies, private sector cooperation, and the adaptation of Bangkok residents. Here are the details:<\/p>

 <\/p>

<\/p>

Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE)<\/strong> include:<\/p>

• Increasing the frequency of "street cleaning"<\/strong> and "water spraying"<\/strong> in the air from 6 PM to 6 AM daily until dust levels decrease.<\/li>
• Establishing a "Coordination Center"<\/strong> to monitor and alert on PM2.5 dust situations in Bangkok and surrounding areas, to track, monitor, and notify relevant agencies for preventive and corrective actions from December 19, 2018, until April 2019. Updates can be found at www.air4thai.pcd.go.th and the "Air4Thai"<\/strong> application, as well as foreign weather apps.<\/li> <\/ul>

  <\/p>

   <\/p>

  Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust by the Pollution Control Department (PCD)<\/strong> include:<\/p>

  • Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Rainmaking Department to implement measures to prevent and resolve PM2.5 dust issues, along with establishing a rapid response unit for "royal rainmaking"<\/strong> operations continuously until the situation returns to normal. For instance, on January 15, 2019, operations were conducted, and rain fell in several areas starting at 2:30 PM.<\/li> <\/ul>

     <\/p>

    Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust by the Ministry of Transport<\/strong> include:<\/p>

    • Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)<\/strong> switched bus fuel from "diesel" to "B20"<\/strong>, with 815 buses already converted and 1,260 remaining, expected to be completed by February 1, 2019.<\/li>
    • Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor)<\/strong> also switched bus fuel from "diesel" to "B20"<\/strong>, with 106 out of 600 buses converted, expected to finish by February 1, 2019.<\/li>
    • State Railway of Thailand (SRT)<\/strong> switched train fuel to "B10"<\/strong> on February 1, 2019, and will trial B20 for further expansion.<\/li>
    • Marine Department (MD)<\/strong> monitored black smoke emissions from boats in the Saen Saeb Canal, Chao Phraya River, and tourist boats, finding five service boats and three express boats exceeding standards, with corrective actions ordered.<\/li>
    • Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)<\/strong> tightened regulations on contractors to "cease dust-generating activities"<\/strong> from January 16-22, 2019, organized vacuum trucks to clean construction areas, and "waived parking fees"<\/strong> for the Purple Line and Blue Line to encourage public transport use.<\/li>
    • Agencies under the Ministry checked fuel usage in government vehicles, reducing diesel vehicle use in all cases, focusing on agencies in Bangkok, and prohibiting idling engines.<\/li>
    • Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT)<\/strong> installed "high-pressure water mist machines"<\/strong> at various interchanges to wash and reduce dust from trucks and ensured smooth traffic management at all toll booths.<\/li> <\/ul>

      
      Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust through Water Spraying<\/strong> include:<\/p>

      • The Governor of Bangkok ordered the use of large fire-fighting equipment to spray water over 30 meters high in front of the King Rama VI Monument before the end of 2018.<\/li>
      • The Governor of Bangkok collaborated with agricultural drone clubs from Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum, along with water trucks and equipment from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and the Environment Department, to operate in six critical areas across Bangkok<\/strong> on January 31, 2019, including the City Hall area, Wat Phra Si Mahathat Bang Khen, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak Park, Lumpini Park, and Rama IX Bridge on the Phra Nakhon side.<\/li>
      • LPN Development Group "sprayed mist"<\/strong> from rooftops of all 150 projects across the city daily since January 15.<\/li>
      • MBK Center "sprayed water"<\/strong> from the 29th floor of the Pathumwan Princess Hotel twice a day for at least 30 minutes until dust levels improve.<\/li>
      • The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of Bangkok "sprayed mist from fire hoses"<\/strong> using two nozzles from the 36th floor of Thanin Noparat Building and employed high-pressure remote-controlled water sprayers, one LUF truck, three 10,000-liter fire trucks, and four drones.<\/li>
      • The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration sent letters requesting cooperation from over 3,200 high-rise buildings and around 150 under-construction buildings to "simultaneously spray mist across Bangkok"<\/strong> on February 3, 2019 (9 AM).<\/li>
      • Bangkok Aviation Center or Bangkok Flight School (BAC) operated "47 small aircraft"<\/strong> to spray fine mist in Bangkok and surrounding areas to help alleviate the PM2.5 crisis.<\/li> <\/ul>

         <\/p>

        <\/p>

         <\/p>

        Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust by Distributing N95 Masks<\/strong> include:<\/p>

        • Bangkok collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health to distribute over 10,000 N95 masks.<\/li>
        • The Mall Group distributed N95 masks at eight branches on February 1, 2019.<\/li>
        • Central shopping centers, in collaboration with the Department of Health, distributed free N95 masks for the second time on February 1, 2019, at all branches across Bangkok and surrounding areas.<\/li>
        • Tesco Lotus distributed 20,000 N95 masks to residents in 10 districts on January 17, 2019.<\/li>
        • PT Gas Stations distributed 15,000 N95 masks starting January 17, 2019.<\/li> <\/ul>

           <\/p>

          Measures to Address PM2.5 Dust by Announcing School Closures and Work from Home<\/strong> include:<\/p>

          • The Ministry of Education (MoE) closed schools for two days (January 31 - February 1, 2019) at all levels.<\/li>
          • Some IT companies allowed employees to work from home.<\/li>
          • Commercial banks allowed female employees who are pregnant or have chronic illnesses that require avoiding dust exposure or need to care for children unable to attend school to take leave without it counting against their leave days, depending on the bank's policy.<\/li> <\/ul>

             <\/p>

            <\/p>

             <\/p>

                          Additionally, there are various other ideas for addressing the PM2.5 dust problem<\/strong> proposed from different sources, but they could not be implemented, such as spraying a mixture of water and molasses to capture airborne dust, which was canceled due to potential public health impacts, or spraying water from the Baiyoke Tower, with experts explaining that spraying water from high buildings would not effectively capture airborne dust. All of this highlights a new challenge that Thailand is facing, and it is time for the Thai people to come together and help<\/strong> --- TerraBKK.com<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

            Article by: TerraBKK Investment Tips
            TerraBKK Find good, valuable, and affordable homes
            <\/strong><\/span><\/p>