Bangkok Urges Work from Home Amid Severe Air Pollution Threat

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Smart Air

 

Bangkok residents are being urged to work from home next week as the city's air quality is set to deteriorate drastically. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has made this call to counter rising levels of PM2.5 particles, which are anticipated to worsen due to pollution and adverse weather conditions.

 

The initiative is spearheaded by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who has publicly appealed, via Facebook, for cooperation from both private companies and public sector offices.

 

The proposed work-from-home period spans Monday through Wednesday, a preventive measure based on forecasts of severe pollution in at least 35 of the capital’s 50 districts.

 

PM2.5 particles—tiny airborne pollutants that can penetrate the respiratory system—pose serious health risks, particularly in dense urban environments.

 

Current predictions classify the air quality in Bangkok in the orange zone, with PM2.5 concentrations expected to hover between 37.6 and 75.0 microgrammes per cubic metre. In such conditions, wearing masks and limiting outdoor exposure is strongly advised.

Adding to the pollution woes, the BMA has identified over 80 hot spots linked to poor air circulation from Saturday to Wednesday. These factors contribute significantly to the dense smog blanketing much of the city, demanding urgent action.

 

Mr. Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, a BMA spokesperson, noted that should the smog levels remain alarmingly high, the work-from-home suggestion might extend through the entire following week. This adaptable approach aims to shield the public from health hazards associated with prolonged exposure to poor air quality.

 

Meanwhile, educational institutions face similar challenges. BMA school directors have the autonomy to decide whether to shut school premises throughout the proposed WFH period, ensuring flexibility and safety for students.

 

City Hall has also extended the remote working advice to its officials, considering both employee health and uninterrupted operations.

 

This announcement comes as residents and businesses grapple with the economic implications of increased telecommuting. While the shift to working from home during such crises can disrupt daily routines, it could also offer respite to stressed public transport systems and reduce traffic emissions.

 

For residents concerned about the economic impact, cutting down on commuting costs could potentially equate to savings. Typically, a single commute from suburban Bangkok into central areas costs between 30 and 50 Thai Baht.

 

For many, working from home could transform these savings into a modest financial buffer amid looming environmental challenges.

 

As the city braces for another bout of hazardous air conditions, Bangkok's proactive measures highlight an urgent push towards responsible urban living and community health safeguarding, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-01-18

 

 

[spidermike007]

If the spectacularly slothful and indifferent officials would do something about this situation it would not continue to plague the nation each and every year. However many of us know that the primary cause of the declining air quality this time of year is due to the burning of rice and sugar, two very antiquated agricultural products that have no business being grown in Thailand in the 21st century. The country would be much better off importing those products rather than growing them and causing hundreds of thousands of people to get sick and die prematurely.

 

However, the reality is that they won't stand up to the super rich and the oligarchs that own the rice processing in the sugar refining plants, and they certainly won't stand up to the farmers who are callously burning their crops and their neighbors and the nation. 

[Clarkey611]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok's proactive measures highlight an urgent push towards responsible urban living and community health safeguarding,

55555555555

[Hanuman2547]

If the poor air quality like this continues it could really start to affect tourism.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If the spectacularly slothful and indifferent officials would do something about this situation it would not continue to plague the nation each and every year. However many of us know that the primary cause of the declining air quality this time of year is due to the burning of rice and sugar, two very antiquated agricultural products that have no business being grown in Thailand in the 21st century. The country would be much better off importing those products rather than growing them and causing hundreds of thousands of people to get sick and die prematurely.

 

However, the reality is that they won't stand up to the super rich and the oligarchs that own the rice processing in the sugar refining plants, and they certainly won't stand up to the farmers who are callously burning their crops and their neighbors and the nation. 

Rice is what Thailand and most of Asia is all about, a staple the people need to survive. Importing it to a poor country is impossible for them. Much of Thailand is rice fields and growing your own is a lot cheaper than buying from others, especially importing. What needs to be done is doing with the chaff what others have done instead of burning it., composting and using it to fertilize.

[spidermike007]

17 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Rice is what Thailand and most of Asia is all about, a staple the people need to survive. Importing it to a poor country is impossible for them. Much of Thailand is rice fields and growing your own is a lot cheaper than buying from others, especially importing. What needs to be done is doing with the chaff what others have done instead of burning it., composting and using it to fertilize.

I totally agree that would be a great solution but it would require a huge amount of government support and encouragement to convince the farmers to do that since it's a lot more work. And in the absence of that it's just a horrific lay destructive crop and the same applies to sugar. 

[NorthernRyland]

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

However, the reality is that they won't stand up to the super rich and the oligarchs that own the rice processing in the sugar refining plants, and they certainly won't stand up to the farmers who are callously burning their crops and their neighbors and the nation. 

 

Yeah sorry no pity for Thai people. They allow a burning culture for the entire year and only now when it starts to get a little annoying some of them complain madly. 

 

 

 

[Dionigi]

Woman next door works for a 7-11, she refused to sell me anything when I knocked on her door

[whitfield]

The pollution at this time of year comes mostly from China, but soon it will be home grown with the burning season in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. It's the same every year, but getting worse.  The farmers need tractors to plough in the stubble instead of burning, but the government prefers submarines. For the cost of 3 Chinese submarines they could buy 30,000 tractors, 3 for every Tambon. They could rent them out and even get a small return.  Instead of platitudes about working from home the government has the means to change it, and it's time they looked after their people instead of their egos. 

[Patong2021]

50 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

If the poor air quality like this continues it could really start to affect tourism.

 

I don't think people realize how bad it is until they get here and then it is too late, and even they  most probably don't notice. I walked around Hua Hin last night and the number of  older tourists sitting in the entertainment  areas  surrounded by dust and vehicle fumes, and puffing away on their cigarettes suggests they don't care.

The Indians and Chinese  probably think Thailand is great  because the air quality is better than what they are used to.

 

There's a been a  gray haze hanging over Hua Hin since New Years. I guess it's a gift from Bangkok that has blown down.

 

[purcho]

Should venture up to Chiang Mai. Beautiful clear blue skies last few days and cool crisp mornings . No smoke issues here

 

[realfunster]

2 hours ago, Clarkey611 said:

55555555555

 

I their slight defence, it was a computer that wrote all that..

 

 

[topt]

48 minutes ago, purcho said:

Should venture up to Chiang Mai. Beautiful clear blue skies last few days and cool crisp mornings . No smoke issues here

 

For how long........

Enjoy it while it lasts.

[realfunster]

1 hour ago, whitfield said:

The pollution at this time of year comes mostly from China, but soon it will be home grown with the burning season in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. It's the same every year, but getting worse.  The farmers need tractors to plough in the stubble instead of burning, but the government prefers submarines. For the cost of 3 Chinese submarines they could buy 30,000 tractors, 3 for every Tambon. They could rent them out and even get a small return.  Instead of platitudes about working from home the government has the means to change it, and it's time they looked after their people instead of their egos. 

 

The classic NASA map (live) shows plenty of burning in Thailand, same as what I can anecdotally confirm on a trip up to Khao Yai last weekend.  https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@105.4,15.0,5.6z

 

The current main culprit is Cambodia, it's a wonder the whole country hasn't melted itself back into the earth's mantle.

 

To protect our breathable air, I would suggest trade sanctions are in order.

If those don't work. Let's just invade them, once we get our new Gripens and submarines sorted out.

The Khmers will have no answer for that.