National —
On January 23rd, 2025, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin addressed a meeting on tackling air pollution, focusing on hazardous PM2.5 levels affecting over 38 million people, including 15 million vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and children.
With over 12 million suffering from air pollution-related illnesses, the economic impact exceeds 2.2 trillion baht. Somsak emphasized the need for collaboration between agencies and urged the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) to intensify efforts to combat air pollution.
A draft Clean Air Management Bill, integrating health and social measures, is under review in Parliament as a long-term solution for sustainable clean air, remarked Somsak.
THPF manager Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon highlighted worsening PM2.5 levels in 58 provinces in 2024, particularly in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Nan. Illness rates linked to air pollution rose sharply, with children aged 0-9 among the most affected. PM2.5 exposure has led to significant health issues, including respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.