2024-01-09 11:09:37
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced this Tuesday that his cabinet approved a bill with the aim of reducing air pollution that hits the country seasonally.
The president expressed his “satisfaction” with this measure, which still must be ratified by Parliament, and assured during a press conference that it will allow an integration of efforts by the government, the private sector and civil society.
The bill focuses on addressing the problem of cross-border pollution – coming from Cambodia and Burma – and aims to regulate factory activity, agriculture and transportation, among other measures.
One of the main air pollution problems in Thailand is the agricultural stubble burning season, which usually occurs between January and April during the beginning of the planting period, and which coincides with the country’s dry season.
This burning, a method used by farmers that is cheaper than removing plants by hand or with machines, also occurs in neighboring countries, such as Cambodia, Burma or Laos, and whose clouds of pollution cross the border and also impact Thailand.
The approval of the bill coincides today with a day with “unhealthy” records in 48 of the country’s 77 provinces in the levels of PM2.5 (particles of 2.5 microns or less in diameter) – the most dangerous and so small that can enter the bloodstream directly -, according to the Thai space agency.
In Bangkok, for example, the level of PM2.5 is “unhealthy” and was around 156 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3) around 2:00 p.m. local time (7:00 GMT), according to the IQAir portal. , which measures air quality around the world.
What is recommended by the Thai authorities is not to exceed 37.5 mcg/m3, while the WHO advises avoiding exposure for more than 24 hours to concentrations greater than 25 mcg/m3 of this type of particles, due to the risk of respiratory diseases. , cardiovascular and cancer.
EFE
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