Mr. Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), presided over the opening of the Seminar on Source of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in Bangkok and its vicinity project. As Bangkok and its vicinity have experienced on air quality problems, especially particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, which may affect public health, integrating cooperation with all relevant sectors, both government agencies, and educational institutions will support information for policy decisions making to the government to drive appropriate solutions effectively. The effectiveness solution of air pollution problem is controlling significant pollution sources. However less information of such sources, especially in Bangkok area and it vicinity, make challenging with government agencies on formulating of solution measure on polluted sources.
Mr. Athapol revealed that this project presents the study results and exchanges the ideas between various agencies in order to solve the problem of particulate matter. This project is the research framework of PCD requirements which is financial supported by the the National Research Office (NRCT), and studied by the Suranaree University of Technology, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nares Chueasuwan as the project leader. In this study, atmospheric PM2.5 samples were collected in Bangkok and its vicinity in 5 provinces, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon, as well as 11 types of PM2.5 samples were collected from industrial chimneys, including crematoriums. The dust samples were then analyzed for chemical compositions, such as Organic Carbon, Elemental Carbon, dissolved ions, and other elements for Source Profiles to determine the source of PM2.5.
“This study results showed that the main source is from the secondary source. Open Burning, traffic, industry, etc., depended on local activity and meteorological conditions. The results of this study is led to the formulation of policies to solve the PM2.5 problem in Bangkok and vicinity. In this regard, PCD will organize the technical seminar with NRCT on the sources of PM2.5 to integrate the study results for further action,” said Mr. Athapol.
