Bangkok’s smog crisis forces 437 schools to close after governor warns ‘children might be harmed’
- Toxic particles known as PM2.5 increased at the end of December and have since remained above the World Health Organisation’s safe threshold
Concentration of harmful fine particles known as PM2.5 increased at the end of December and has since remained above the World Health Organisation’s safe threshold of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre.
After a short respite over the weekend, Bangkok’s air quality on Wednesday reach 200 on the Air Quality Index – that means the air is exceptionally unhealthy for all groups.
Residents have grown resigned to dealing with bad air until the wind, usually calm during January and February, again blows through the Thai capital.
Motorbike driver Thodsaphon Thippawan has been struggling to breathe while earning a living these past few days.
“I had to buy this mask yesterday to breathe,” says Thosdaphon, displaying his black mask with a valve, for which he paid 100 Thai baht (US$3).
“It will last until at least end of February … and it will get worse as a result of El Nino that will take place very soon,” says Tara Buakamsri, Thailand country director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.