Bangkok gets 6th air pollution clinic to cope with rising PM2.5 levels
Bangkok’s sixth air pollution clinic was opened on Thursday at Venerable Thawisak Jutindharo Hospital in Nong Khaem district to provide care for people vulnerable to air pollution.
Bangkokians have been suffering from bad PM2.5 pollution or dust particles in the air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to chronic diseases including lung and heart problems.
Thailand’s safe limit for PM2.5 exposure is 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3), though the World Health Organisation puts it at 12μg/m3.
The average PM2.5 reading in Bangkok lies at about 52μg/m3.
The new clinic, which had a soft opening in January, has so far treated 63 people in Nong Khaem and nearby districts, Bangkok spokesman Aekvarunyoo Amrapala said.
To cope with the rising PM2.5 pollution, the clinic will open daily until March 10, he said. The clinic’s operating hours are 8am to 3pm for the next seven days.
People suffering from respiratory problems in other areas of the city can visit the other five air pollution clinics. They are located at the BMA General Hospital, Taksin Hospital, Charoen Krung Pracharak Hospital, Ratchaphiphat Hospital and Sirindhorn Hospital.
Aekvarunyoo said more than 300 patients have been treated at these clinics since October last year.
The air pollution clinics provide detailed diagnoses and treatment based on symptoms and patient history.
The clinics also provide advice on what can be done to avoid exposure to PM2.5 pollution, he added.
“PM2.5 pollution causes symptoms like coughing, tightness in the chest, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, acute asthma and skin rash. Sometimes several symptoms can pop up simultaneously,” he said. “People are advised to monitor their symptoms closely and consider going to the hospitals if the symptoms escalate.”
Bangkok’s Health Department is on standby 24/7 at hotline 1649 to provide advice on fighting pollution.
