Thailand urging people to work from home due to severe air pollution, Bangkok badly hit

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand is urging people across the country to work from home after air pollution levels exceeded safe levels in almost every province on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Air quality nationwide will likely remain poor until Friday due to stagnant air and agricultural burning, Bangkok Post reported, citing the Pollution Control Department.

Critically unhealthy PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution levels were recorded across Bangkok.

A study from the University of Chicago was cited to support the move for unnecessary travel.

The study determined that a person’s life expectancy can be shortened by about a year due to prolonged exposure to PM2.5 levels exceeding 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³).

With levels this year projected to remain high, people are urged to wear N95 masks for optimum protection, the public health minister advised.

The worst-hit district, Nong Khaem, recorded a level 146.5µg/m³.

The most recent reports showed unsafe PM2.5 levels in 70 of 77 provinces, in particular in Greater Bangkok.

Samut Sakhon, adjacent to Greater Bangkok, is the most affected, with the highest level at 144.8.

Only seven provinces reported dust levels lower than the government’s safe threshold of 37.5.

The ministry will convene a meeting on Wednesday, where a nationwide work-from-home policy will be proposed to the cabinet next week.

Other measures will be devised to deal with the growing crisis.

The plan is for government agencies to adopt the policy so that the private sector will follow suit.

The work-from-home policy was originally recommended for the first two days of the week, but it may be extended to Friday if high pollution levels persist.

In 2024, about 200 companies and 100,000 employees had adopted work-from-home arrangements, which helped reduce traffic by 8 per cent.

Trucks with six or more wheels are banned from the Ratchadaphisek area when red levels of PM2.5 are recorded and are expected to remain high for at least the two following days.

Exceptions include electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles and vehicles registered on the Green List.

Four schools have now transitioned to online classes.

Top photo via Google Maps