Industrial plants in Greater Bangkok detected with PM10

BANGKOK, January 31 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Industry reports that manufacturing plants in the country, about 1,700 of which are located in Greater Bangkok, have been normally detected to release the particulate matter of 10 micrograms per cubic meter in its diameter (PM10), which is larger and less hazardous than the critical particulate matter of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter in its diameter (PM2.5). Caretaker Industry Minister Somchai Harnhiran told journalists of the finding on January 30, stating, however, that nine industrial plants in Greater Bangkok have been detected to release the noise and water pollution at levels exceeding the safety standards and have already been ordered by his ministry's Department of Industrial Works to urgently solve the problems within 30 days. According to the caretaker minister, 14 out of a total of 7,700 industrial plants in provincial areas nationwide have also been detected to release the air pollution exceeding the safety standards and have been ordered to urgently solve the problem in the due course. Besides, the Department of Industrial Works has sought cooperation, as a precaution, from about 2,600 industrial plants nationwide to install within 30 days the certified energy manager (CEM) device at their chimneys to measure and report online on the real time basis the air quality in their areas directly to the department's information center or other officially-authorized facilities. Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Industry has also sought cooperation from nationwide industrial plants being at risk of releasing the air pollution, or being located in hazardous or "red" areas of the air pollution to reduce their production during rush hours daily or to start their daily production after the rush hours in order to prevent or ease the air pollution in their respective areas.(TNA)