In response to alarming levels of air pollution, Bangkok has issued a plea for employees to work from home. The city, grappling with deteriorating air quality, found itself blanketed in a hazardous haze on February 15.
Bangkok's governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, announced that all municipal employees would telecommute on Thursday and Friday. Sittipunt appealed to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's vast network of 151 government and private entities, stressing the severity of the situation. He estimated that over 60,000 individuals would benefit from this directive.
Sittipunt warned that at least 20 of Bangkok's 50 districts were likely to experience unhealthy levels of PM2.5 particles. He attributed the prolonged duration of the pollution to calm weather conditions.
IQAir, an air monitoring website, ranked Bangkok among the ten most polluted cities globally. Such elevated pollution levels pose significant health risks, particularly due to PM2.5 particles, which can penetrate the bloodstream and exceed WHO's annual guidelines by over 15 times.
City authorities implored employers to cooperate during this critical period. The measure aims to safeguard the well-being of Bangkok's 11 million residents. Experts anticipate the high pollution levels to persist until February 16.
Thailand's air quality routinely deteriorates in the early months due to agricultural burning and industrial emissions. In 2023, pollution-related ailments affected at least two million Thais.
The Thai government has prioritized addressing air pollution, with a draft Clean Air Act recently endorsed. Additionally, a court ruling in Chiang Mai mandated urgent measures to combat pollution within 90 days.
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