Bangkok is expected to experience a resurgence of PM2.5 dust from here to the end of the month. An expert in environmental chemistry from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has opined that the volatile weather in Thailand is aggravating the dust situation.
Professor Siwatt Pongpiachan, director of NIDA’s Center for Research and Development for Disaster Prevention and Management, said weather factors are what control PM2.5 concentrations.
He explained that regardless of whether dust sources increase or remain unchanged, weather conditions that favor dust accumulation will lead to high levels of airborne particles. He pointed out that it rains little at the end and beginning of the year, which means that the dust present in the atmosphere is not washed away. Meanwhile, the lack of winds during this same period aggravates the impacts of burning agricultural stubble.
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For Bangkok, Siwatt said the wind speed changes from day to day and PM2.5 levels vary depending on the wind speed. This means that PM2.5 particulate matter is not swept away at the same rate each day even though the sources of dust in Bangkok remain the same.
It rains little at the end and beginning of the year, which means that the dust present in the atmosphere is not dragged
Dr. Siwatt suggested that the government set standard thresholds for carcinogenic substances in the atmosphere and in PM2.5 dust. These thresholds would also include the determination of heavy metals present in the dust.
This would also include determining the heavy metal content in the air, apart from the lead content. He pointed out that Thailand lacks these analyzes, which would allow the population to be informed. He added that carcinogens and heavy metals directly affect everyone who breathes the air.
