Bangkok under a blanket of smog: Particulate matter alarm!

Bangkok again suffers from smog and the associated particulate matter. Yesterday, a level of particulate matter (PM 21) was measured in 2,5 places that considerably exceeds the safety limit.

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) says the smog is a result of all traffic returning from vacation. That, in combination with the dry weather and low air circulation, causes air pollution.

Particulate matter is a collective name for dust particles in the air, caused by industry and traffic, for example. Inhalation of particulate matter can be harmful to health. Fine dust particles smaller than 0,01 millimeters end up deep in the lungs after inhalation. They trigger an inflammatory response in the lungs. This can lead to:

• respiratory complaints, such as an asthma attack, tightness of the chest or cough;
• faster clotting of the blood and a higher risk of a heart attack, especially for people who already have narrowed arteries;
• aggravate arteriosclerosis due to the inflammatory response;
• less elastic blood vessels and increase in blood pressure;
• The more particulate matter there is in the air, the worse the complaints.

For today, the PCD expects air pollution to range from moderate to harmful. The population has been advised to follow the information provided by the authorities. Only children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses should be careful and consult a doctor quickly if they are very distressed by the situation.

Source: Bangkok Post