Bangkok smog not from power plant emissions: EGAT

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (TNA) -- The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) stated that the pollution situation in Bangkok was not from emissions from their power plants. Anuchart Palakawongse Na Ayudhya, EGAT Assistant Governor for Project Community Relations and Environment denied rumours that Bangkok's heavy pollution come from their electricity generating plants including from the Mae Moh plant in Lampang province. The amount of PM2.5 particulate matter in Bangkok had earlier gone beyond the safety limits. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter below 2.5 micrometres in diameter. PM2.5 poses a health threat when it reaches above 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air, while the World Health Organisation puts the limit at 25 micrograms. Mr Anuchat says that EGAT operates under strict environmental guidelines and perform routine air-quality checks on all exhaust flues as well as the surrounding environment. Furthermore, he said that emissions from the stacks are monitored for particulates, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases, heavy metals, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead all of which are below prescribed levels. Therefore, EGAT assured the public that they were not to blame for the heavy pollution in the capital as one of their most important mandates - beside providing energy, was the preservation of the environment. (TNA)