Expert Urges Bangkok to be Declared “Problem Area” for PM2.5 Pollution

An environmental and health expert has recommended that Bangkok be officially declared a “problem area” to tackle the ongoing PM2.5 pollution crisis. Sonthi Kotchawat, an expert from the Thai Environmental Scholars Club, urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to apply the Public Health Act BE 2560 to implement stricter measures for pollution control.

According to Kotchawat, designating the city as a “nuisance problem control area” would allow authorities to enforce tougher regulations, such as imposing fines up to 25,000 baht or three months of imprisonment for violators.

This recommendation follows reports of harmful PM2.5 levels in all of Bangkok’s districts, with many areas reaching orange and red zones, signaling severe health risks. Data from the BMA’s AirBKK monitoring system revealed that 51 areas in the capital had an average PM2.5 level of 43.4 µg/m³, exceeding the safety threshold of 37.5 µg/m³. The most affected districts were Nong Khaem and Thawi Watthana, where PM2.5 levels ranged between 54.5 and 58.5 µg/m³.

The weather forecast suggests worsening air quality over the next few days due to poor ventilation and temperature inversion near the surface. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has instructed agencies to accelerate measures to reduce transport-related emissions. These measures include improving vehicle maintenance, promoting electric vehicles (EVs), and switching to cleaner fuels such as B10 and B20 biodiesel.

Additionally, Suriya ordered stricter environmental protocols at construction sites, including regular water spraying, proper waste management, and a ban on burning activities. The Pollution Control Department, working with local agencies, has also intensified efforts to identify and penalize vehicles emitting black smoke in both urban and suburban areas.