Oh, the buzz in Bangkok is not about the latest street food craze or a swoon-worthy night market find, but something rather less appetizing—the air quality, or the lack thereof. The city, known for its vibrant streets and exuberant life, has found itself under the gray blanket of an unwelcome guest: fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, affectionately dubbed PM2.5, which seems hellbent on crashing the Bangkok party.
Brace yourselves, Bangkokers, because this little invader is sending at least 17 of your beloved districts into what’s color-coded as the “orange zone,” a fashion statement nobody wants to make. PM2.5 is so passé, yet it intends to linger around like an overplayed pop song until Tuesday, according to the somber forecast by the Pollution Control Department (PCD).
The news, shared on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Facebook page—which, between us, has a rather unexpected knack for social media—spiraled through the digital alleys of chat and chatter. They warn that those with fragile lungs and a penchant for breathing might find the orange glow particularly disagreeable.
Our list of districts that have been name-dropped for PM2.5’s notorious guest list include: Laksi, the leafy haven; Chatuchak, where treasures in the weekend market now come with a side of haze; Klong Toey, with its bustling port sadly not shipping off the pollutants; Phra Khanong, Bang Na—oh, Bang Na!—Phaya Thai, Din Daeng; then Huai Khwang, Klong Sam Wa, Min Buri, joining the haze fest; Saphan Sung, and Taling Chan. We can’t forget Bangkok Noi, Thawi Watthana, Bang Khae, with the last spot—oops, there are no more spots—it’s Nong Khaem.
And it’s not just Thailand sending out smoke signals! Hats off to our neighbours in Cambodia, hosting a whopping 2,447 of these PM2.5 soirées, as spotted by the eagle eyes over at the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
However, before you decide to hold your breath until it clears, let’s not forget that these microscopic party crashers are not here to dance, they’re here to wreak a little havoc on your health. So as Thailand braces for the creeping influx, courtesy of our Cambodian neighbours and the apathetic winds that refuse to blow the nasty away, all eyes turn to the solutions.
We’re rallying the troops – the PCD and BMA – and they’ve got a game plan. Dear residents of the urban jungle, they implore you to park those solo car rides and embrace the waltz of public transport. While you’re at it, shun all flammable temptations. No burning, they plea, with a hint of urgency. Anything to clear up the skies and keep Bangkok’s fashion firmly in the breathable zone.
So, let’s tackle this unwelcome fashion faux pas and make ‘clear skies’ the trend that never goes out of style. For now, the city might need to hold its breath—figuratively, of course, because literally, that would be terrible advice.
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