Thailand on January 26 mobilised its navy and other agencies to contain an oil spill after an estimated 160,000 litres leaked from an undersea pipeline about 20 km (12.4 miles) off its industrialised eastern seaboard.
In a bid to control a major source of fine particulate matter PM2.5, Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) has announced a raft of measures to reduce emissions from vehicles.
The Thai government’s waste-management policy has reduced the use of 1.5 billion plastic bags since August 17 last year, the country’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported.
Thailand and Japan have joined hands on air quality management and the reduction of fine PM 2.5 particulate matter in traffic congested areas, starting with air pollution surveys in Bangkok to find the sources of pollution by the end of this year, in order to create solutions to resolve this issue.
The Pollution Control Department has thanked all agencies and the public for their contribution, after the Air Quality Index (AQI) showed signs of improvement.
Thai authorities have acknowledged that high concentrations of particulate matter or PM 2.5, remain in at least 21 areas throughout Bangkok and its vicinity, and the overall pollution situation could worsen again this week.
Air pollution has forced the suspension of classes at private schools across Bangkok this week, though the Pollution Control Department (PCD) on January 23 reported fewer areas with unsafe levels of PM2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller.
Particulate Matter, or PM 2.5, levels have risen to health threatening levels across Bangkok and its vicinity with Muang district of Nakhon Pathom the hardest hit at 79 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) of Thailand is raising public awareness on keeping rivers clean with a boating campaign cleaning up waste on Chao Phraya River through 10 provinces.
Thailand’s Pollution Control Department has sought cooperation from 7,000 water bottle manufacturers to stop using plastic cap seals within a year, in order to reduce plastic waste.
Thailand is planning to propose a roadmap to solve the smog crisis at the upcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME) to be held in Vietnam on October 29-30.
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