The Thai Transport Ministry will install air purifiers on the roofs of Bangkok buses this month. (Photo: The Nation) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Transport Ministry will install airpurifiers on the roofs of Bangkok buses this month, starting with vehicles ofBangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and fitting trucks as well if the resultsare good.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob saidplans were being finalised with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science,Research and Innovation, the National Science and Technology Development Agencyand Chiang Mai University (CMU) to outfit the 387 buses on 129 routes.
Unlike home units, these air purifiers will require no electrical power, simplygulping in air as the vehicles move.
A simulation of the CMU found that a unitmounted on car moving at 20 kilometres per hour could purify 20,000 cubicmetres of air per hour. The average adultbreathes 0.5 cubic metre of air per hour, so theoretically, a bus with apurifier could supply fresh air to 40,000 people in one hour. TheDepartment of Land Transport has yet to determine whether a bus even movingfaster than 20kph would produce enough purified air just by its movement.
The units are expected to be inexpensive. Thechangeable filter costs around 500 THB (16.07 USD) and is good for 400 hours,or around 2-3 weeks.
Saksayam said the ministry might also designa purifier for small vehicles including motorcycles but would not make theirinstallation obligatory.
Earlier, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered temporary halt to theconstruction of high-rise buildings and electric train routes in Bangkok fromFebruary 4-6 to reduce air pollution in metropolitan areas.
Last month, the Thai cabinet approved 12 measures to reduce air pollution,including banning lorries on Bangkok streets on even dates during January andFebruary./.
