BANGKOK, 24 March 2016 – The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has reached out to ambassadors of neighbouring countries, urging immediate control of burning activities as air pollution is reaching high levels.
The PCD Director-General Wijarn Simachaya has revealed that areas in the Northern region of Thailand were partially affected by the accumulated haze from burning activities in the neighbouring countries, blown into Thailand through the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, and Phayao.
He has said the PCD will be reaching out through dialogue with ambassadors, asking for border area cooperation to urgently regulate the burning activities to help mitigate the issue.
Currently, the PM10 airborne particulate matter level in many provinces are still considered to be standard, with exceptions in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai, where the PM10 reading has reached 300 micrograms per cubic meter due to low pressure and strong winds, bringing in accumulated airborne particles.
Smoke from burning activities in Thailand is also a key cause of haze accumulation in the area.
The PCD director-general has stressed all provinces will be enforcing the prohibition of all burning activities to prevent further accumulation of air pollution, along with mitigation measures such as spraying water vapour to bring down airborne particle, distribution of masks, and the provision of medical services to the general public to provide guidance of proper practices amidst an intensifying haze condition.
