Air Pollution Forces Closure of 352 Schools in Bangkok
Bangkok ranks seventh in the world's most polluted cities as air quality worsens, leading to widespread school closures.
Air pollution in Bangkok has forced the closure of 352 schools across 31 districts, the city's authorities announced on Friday.
The closures, which affected thousands of students, were prompted by hazardous levels of particulate matter (PM2.5), a type of pollutant linked to serious health risks.
This is the largest number of school closures due to pollution in Bangkok since 2020. According to air quality monitor IQAir, Bangkok was ranked the seventh-most polluted major city globally, with PM2.5 levels reaching 108 micrograms per cubic meter.
The World Health Organization recommends that daily PM2.5 exposure should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
The pollution is a seasonal issue in Thailand, exacerbated by colder air, vehicle emissions, and smoke from crop stubble burning.
On Thursday, over 250 schools were already closed as authorities urged residents to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city.
The Interior Minister has ordered a ban on stubble burning, with legal penalties for violators.
Neighboring cities, including Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, also ranked highly in the IQAir index for pollution.
However, Cambodia’s Environment Ministry maintained that air quality levels remained within the country’s safety standards.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for stronger measures to tackle air pollution, including limiting construction in Bangkok and working with neighboring countries.
The closures, which affected thousands of students, were prompted by hazardous levels of particulate matter (PM2.5), a type of pollutant linked to serious health risks.
This is the largest number of school closures due to pollution in Bangkok since 2020. According to air quality monitor IQAir, Bangkok was ranked the seventh-most polluted major city globally, with PM2.5 levels reaching 108 micrograms per cubic meter.
The World Health Organization recommends that daily PM2.5 exposure should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
The pollution is a seasonal issue in Thailand, exacerbated by colder air, vehicle emissions, and smoke from crop stubble burning.
On Thursday, over 250 schools were already closed as authorities urged residents to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city.
The Interior Minister has ordered a ban on stubble burning, with legal penalties for violators.
Neighboring cities, including Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, also ranked highly in the IQAir index for pollution.
However, Cambodia’s Environment Ministry maintained that air quality levels remained within the country’s safety standards.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for stronger measures to tackle air pollution, including limiting construction in Bangkok and working with neighboring countries.
