Volume 4, 8 January 2021 (B.E. 2564)

MNRE opened the Air Quality Monitoring Station in Phitsanulok Province

   On 8^th January 2021, H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa Minister of Natural Resources and Environment opened the Air Quality Monitoring Station in Phitsanulok Province, aiming for the government to assess the situation of air quality, surveillance, management and prevention of public health which attended by
Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE),
Mr. Ronachai Jitvisate Governor of Phitsanulok Province, Mr. Athaphol Charoenshunsa Director General of the Pollution Control Department, Mr. Boonsong Tantanee Mayor of Phitsanulok Municipality and head of relevant government agencies.

H.E. Varawut revealed that the situation of particulate matter PM_2.5 in the northern region has exceeded the standard over the years and has affected public health. The government has approved the action plan for driving the national agenda “Solving the problem of particulate matter”. The National Agenda sets guidelines for the development of a comprehensive air quality monitoring network in Thailand by 2024.
The government by the Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha concerns to the quality of life and air quality in Thailand in all area. Air quality monitoring station will allow us to monitor air quality all the time. Phitsanulok Province is one of the 17 northern provinces that the government has focused on and
has designated as the target area for air pollution control measures from forest fires and open burning. Therefore, central and local government can assess air quality situation in all areas. This matter makes
air quality management more substantial and can protect people from particulate matter problem as well as can notice them to surveillance and protect their health.

H.E. Varawut said that reducing pollution from source is the most important point. MNRE aims to push provinces and related agencies to focus on reducing pollution from sources including open burning, dust, forest fires, traffic, and other sources as well as raising awareness and perception of people to participate in reducing activities that cause air pollution to make good air quality and quality of life.

Mr. Athaphol said that air quality monitoring network currently consists of 68 automatic air quality monitoring stations in 37 provinces and 9 mobile air quality monitoring units and 18 measuring instruments of particulate matters size less than 2.5 microns for outdoor. However, these still do not cover all provinces throughout the country. Thus, it is necessary to install an additional air quality monitoring stations. The new air quality monitoring station in Phitsanulok Province is one of seven stations that has been allocated in the fiscal year 2020. It is able to measure air quality in the critical atmosphere in order to obtain precise and accurate air quality data according to the standard methods. The parameters for measuring air quality include particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM_2.5), particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM₁₀), ozone (O₃), carbonmonoxide (CO), nitrogendioxide (NO₂) and sulfurdioxide (SO₂). The measurement results are reported online at website www.air4thai.com and Air4 Thai application in mobile phone from January onwards.

Translation by Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Coordination Subdivision,
Pollution Control Department Tel. 02298 2065 – 69 Fax. 02298 5108