imagesColumn

[Thailand] PM2.5 concentrations rise in Bangkok during the dry season / N95 masks are a must-have

images

Breathlessness, itchy eyes... air pollution getting worse

From late 2018 to February 2019, concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in and around the Thai capital, Bangkok, exceeded national standards, leading to a series of days of concern about the impact on health. According to a survey conducted by the National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) in January 2019, more than 50 percent of people said they felt the effects of PM2.5 on their bodies, such as breathlessness, nasal pain and itchy eyes, which is a reminder of the severity of air pollution.
During periods of high PM2.5 readings, N95 masks for PM2.5 have become a must-have among Bangkok residents. Some companies and schools provided N95 masks and they were available at drug stores and online shopping for about 55 baht a piece.Towards the end of September 2019, PM2.5 levels continued to rise temporarily. In October, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration installed a giant air purifier with 1,000 square meters of air treatment capacity in front of the Central World shopping mall. With the dry season approaching, some international schools have begun to take action, including the installation of air purifiers. The number of households that have adopted air purifiers is also increasing rapidly. According to leading shopping mall group TheMall, sales of air purifiers in January 2019 were 900% higher than the same month last year, and they remained out of stock.

images

Car exhaust and dust cause air pollution

The main source of PM2.5 in Bangkok is considered to be car exhaust. The dry season from December to March is particularly conducive to the accumulation of airborne dust due to the lack of rainfall and low wind speeds, and the dry season-like air conditions were also the cause of the September increase in PM2.5 concentrations. It wasn't until late 2017 that I began to feel specific symptoms in my body. There are still old model buses and trucks driving around the city that emit black smoke.
Dust from public transportation, roads and building construction sites going on in various parts of the city is also a source of air pollution. The Thai government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have taken measures such as reducing traffic congestion, tightening the crackdown on vehicles that violate emission standards, temporary closure of schools, and artificial rainfall, but a fundamental solution to the problem has yet to be found. The government is planning to raise the emission standards from the current EURO 4 to EURO 5, but industry officials have not been able to keep up with the preparations, and the introduction of the new standards is expected to take place by 2024.

images

This article is co-authored by TNC Lifestyle Researcher (http://lifestyle.tenace.co.jp/) and Intage's Global Researcher.

  • TNCアジアトレンドラボ

    Author profile
    TNC ASIA Trend Lab

    TNC ASIA Trend Lab is an information organization run by TNC Inc. that researches and shares trends in Asia. It supports corporate marketing activities by finding insights from trends rooted in the lifestyles and habits of local consumers.
    http://tnc-trend.jp/

  • Intage Inc

    Editor profile
    Intage Inc.

    ＊＊＊

  • Jan 27, 2020
  • 3940 Views

Reproducing and quotation
  • The copyright of this report/column is held by Intage Inc. or the company to which the author belongs. Please confirm the following prohibitions and cautions, and specify the source when reproducing or quoting.
    Example:
    "Source: Intage's Research Report "(Report title) (issued on DD/MM/YYYY)"
    "Source: Global Market Surfer, article published on DD/MM/YYYY"
  • Prohibiton:
    • Modification of part or all of the contents
    • Sale or publication of part or all of the contents
    • Use that is offensive to public order and morals or that leads to illegal activities
    • Reprpducing or quotation for the purpose of advertising or sales promotion of companies, products, or services.
  • Other cautions:
    • We are not responsible for any trouble, loss or damage caused by the use of this report.
    • These terms of use do not restrict the use of quotations, etc., which are permitted under the Copyright Act.
  • If you have any questions about reprinting or quotation, please contact us from here