The Pollution Control Department (PCD) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand said that PM2.5 fine dust pollution in the capital Bangkok will continue to worsen, and advised people to work from home until the middle of this week.
According to VNA , PCD Director Preeyaporn Suwanakate said the high concentration of PM2.5 pollution was due to poor air circulation in many areas of the capital, caused by a combination of low atmospheric pressure and changing wind patterns in the region. This has led to the accumulation of pollutants in many areas of Bangkok.
Currently, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is stepping up inspections of all pollution sources in the capital. City Hall has also ordered the installation of “dust-free” rooms in all kindergartens and schools under BMA supervision.
State agencies and companies are also encouraged to allow employees to work from home to reduce air pollution across the capital.
The Thai government has also offered discounts of up to 55 percent for those who want to change engine oil and oil filters as part of efforts to help curb pollution, Pollution Control Department officials said.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, fine dust or PM (Particulate Matter) is inorganic or organic molecules suspended in the air, often originating mainly from vehicle exhaust or through the burning of organic fuels in industry. The size of fine dust is very diverse, difficult to see clearly with the naked eye and is measured in µm (micrometer). Of which, the most well-known dust particles with ultra-micron size are:
PM10: Fine dust with a diameter of 2.5 to 10 microns, one millionth of a meter.
PM2.5: Fine dust with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns.
PM1.0: Ultrafine dust with a size of 1 micron.
Ultra-fine dust PM0.1: Ultra-fine dust has a size of less than 0.1 micron.
Thus, PM2.5 fine dust is tiny dust particles in the air with a size of 2.5 microns or less (compared to a human hair, it is about 30 times smaller).
PM2.5 fine dust brings harmful bacteria to the body, thereby causing skin allergies, making you feel itchy and uncomfortable. If exposed to a large amount of fine dust, it can also cause rhinitis, eye pain, and ear, nose and throat diseases.
PM2.5 fine dust can absorb toxins, and also carry bacteria and viruses from the environment. Therefore, when they enter your body, they will release toxins into your body, thereby weakening your immune system. Therefore, people living in big cities with high levels of pollution are more susceptible to minor illnesses than people living in places with clean air.
PM2.5 fine dust enters your body through breathing. Then, they follow the airways, adhere and accumulate on the surface of the lungs. When this amount of dust accumulates over time, it can cause major effects on your lungs.
In addition, PM2.5 fine dust destroys and accelerates the process of Apoptosis - one of the most important pathophysiological bases of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, inhaling a large amount of PM2.5 fine dust can increase the risk of death in people with heart disease.
Studies on the human brain show that when we are exposed to PM2.5 fine dust, it can slowly move into the brain, thereby penetrating and increasing our risk of degenerative brain diseases.
In particular, PM2.5 fine dust contains metals that scientists have studied as the cause of cancer and, more terribly, genetic mutations in humans.
Minh Hoa (reported by VNA, Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee)
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