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Health Ministry To Push Remote Work As Air Pollution Worsens

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will suggest that people across the country work from home next week after Tuesday’s reports showed that PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution levels exceeded safe limits in nearly all provinces, with the most severe levels noted in Greater Bangkok.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that the ministry will hold a meeting on Wednesday to develop responses to the escalating crisis.

The ministry intends to recommend a national work-from-home policy at the next cabinet meeting. Mr. Somsak is optimistic that if government offices implement this policy, the private sector will follow.

He referenced a University of Chicago study that found prolonged exposure to PM2.5 exceeding 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter could reduce life expectancy by approximately a year.

With high pollution levels expected to continue, the minister advises wearing N95 masks for the best protection.

Data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) showed that on Tuesday, dangerously high PM2.5 levels were recorded throughout Bangkok.

Nong Khaem, the district hit hardest, reported a PM2.5 concentration of 146.5 µg/m³.

Given the forecast of continuing hazardous levels, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has implemented three primary measures.

Initially, City Hall advised working from home for the first two days of the week, with the possibility of extending this recommendation through Friday if pollution remains high.

The BMA noted that about 200 companies, involving around 100,000 employees, embraced remote working arrangements last year, which led to an 8% reduction in traffic.

Another action taken is the establishment of low-emission zones (LEZs), where heavy trucks are prohibited in the Ratchadaphisek area during periods of high PM2.5 levels, expected to last at least two days.

This restriction does not apply to electric or natural gas vehicles and those on the Green List.

The final measure includes the temporary shutdown of BMA schools, with four institutions now conducting classes online.

The Pollution Control Department cautions that the national air quality is expected to remain low until Friday, exacerbated by stagnant air and agricultural burning.

Recent data reveals that unsafe PM2.5 levels were found in 70 out of 77 provinces, with the area around Greater Bangkok, particularly Samut Sakhon, most affected, recording the highest levels.

Only seven provinces — Phangnga, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son — have reported dust concentrations below the government’s safe limit of 37.5.