Thailand strengthens cooperation with Cambodia against trans-border pollution, Illustrative image (Source: Thaipbsworld.com)

Bangkok – The Thai government is accelerating efforts to hold talks with its Cambodian counterpart to address transboundary air pollution, which is posing an increasing threat to the health of people in Thailand, as the dry season, is expected to be dryer and longer this year due to the El Nino phenomenon, gets underway.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Thai and Cambodian authorities are working together on this issue.

MODIS satellite images, taken on January 30, showed 644 hotspots in Cambodia, while most of the hotspots in Thailand were detected in farm land.

Thailand’s Central Weather Forecast Unit at the Meteorological Department said that the hotspots in Cambodia did not show any sign of reducing during a week of observation, as airborne pollution from Cambodia crosses the border into Thailand in Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri provinces.

It also warned of increased airborne pollution for another week, due to poor wind circulation.

According to Thailand’s Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation, PM2.5 has exceeded the threshold level in 39 provinces, including Bangkok. In and around the capital, PM2.5 levels in the past 24 hours were between 41.8µg/m³ and 90.9µg/m³ against the safety threshold of 37.5µg/m³.