Air Pollution Forces School Closures in Bangkok
Severe Air Pollution in Bangkok
Air pollution has forced nearly 200 schools in Bangkok to close on Thursday, local authorities said, as officials urged people to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city. The Thai capital has long been plagued by seasonal air pollution, which is exacerbated by colder, stagnant winter air combining with smoke from crop stubble burning and car fumes.
Air Quality Index
By Thursday morning, Bangkok was the sixth most polluted major city in the world, according to IQAir. The level of PM2.5 pollutants, which are cancer-causing microparticles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs, hit 122 micrograms per cubic metre. The World Health Organization recommends a 24-hour average exposure of no more than 15 micrograms per cubic metre for most days of the year.
School Closures
Earlier this week, Bangkok authorities said schools in areas with elevated levels of PM2.5 could choose to close. By Friday morning, 194 of the 437 schools under the authority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority had shut their doors, affecting thousands of students. The facilities range from kindergartens to secondary schools, and the closures will last from a day to a week. Dozens of other schools in the capital are not under BMA authority, and figures for those schools were not available.
Highest Number of School Closures
The figure is the highest number of school closures since 2020, when all schools under BMA authority shut over air pollution.
Work-from-Home Scheme
Earlier this week, authorities encouraged people to work from home, but the scheme is voluntary and has only 100,000 registered participants in a city of some 10 million.
Restrictions on Heavy Vehicles
Officials have also limited access for six-wheel trucks in parts of the capital until late Friday.
Government Measures
The government has announced incentives to stop crop stubble burning and is even trialling a novel method to tackle air pollution by spraying cold water or dry ice into the air above the smog. However, the measures have had little impact so far, and opposition politicians have accused Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of failing to take the issue seriously.
Opposition Criticism
"Whilst the prime minister is breathing fresh air in Switzerland as she tries to attract more investment to Thailand… millions of Thais are breathing polluted air into their lungs," Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, charged in a Facebook post.
Conclusion
Air pollution remains a significant problem in Bangkok, and it is essential that the government takes more effective measures to address the issue. The closure of schools and restrictions on heavy vehicles are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to protect the health and well-being of the city’s residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many schools have closed due to air pollution in Bangkok?
A: Nearly 200 schools have closed, affecting thousands of students.
Q: What is the cause of the air pollution in Bangkok?
A: The air pollution is caused by a combination of factors, including colder, stagnant winter air, smoke from crop stubble burning, and car fumes.
Q: What measures has the government taken to address the air pollution?
A: The government has announced incentives to stop crop stubble burning and is trialling a novel method to tackle air pollution by spraying cold water or dry ice into the air above the smog.
Q: How many people have registered for the work-from-home scheme?
A: Only 100,000 people have registered for the scheme, out of a city population of 10 million.