Attempts to Ease Dust in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Jan 18 (TNA) - A meeting and a seminar were held to find the ways to solve the dust pollution in Bangkok as high pressure area from China could aggravate the problem in the next seven days. Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya yesterday presided over a meeting to tackle the tiny dust problem in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. He ordered all agencies to find measures to solve the air pollution. It is worrying that another high pressure area from China will extend to Thailand in the next seven days and may worsen the current dust problem. The meeting also discussed a shortage of N95 masks in the market. The Commerce Ministry will control the price of the N95 face masks under 50 baht each and prevent any traders from hoarding the goods. A seminar on the PM2.5 particles, health concern and solutions was held by the Medical Council of Thailand to compile information and evaluate the impacts of the tiny dust and suggestions in order to propose to the government next week. It warned people not to stay in the critical areas with the high level of particulate matter and vulnerable groups should N95 grade masks. Those vulnerable groups are patients with respiratory illnesses and heart diseases. People who work outdoor should wear face masks such as vendors, traffic police, drivers and non air-conditioned bus conductors. (TNA)