Air quality management

Thailand has been monitoring air quality for more than two decades. The central government of Thailand, including the Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau of the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, has played a vital role in air quality monitoring.

Currently, there are 53 air quality monitoring stations, 5 meteorological stations and five mobile ambient air quality monitoring units in Thailand which are being handled by the PCD. The PCD has been using an automatic monitoring system- AIRVIRO SYSTEM - in measuring air quality levels. PCD reports real-time air quality levels as air quality index (AQI) maps through their website.

Ambient Air Quality Standards

Thailand first adopted its National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 1981 and then revised in 1995. The revisions took into consideration the human health impacts of key pollutants within the limitations posed by the pertinent environmental, socioeconomic and technological conditions in Thailand. Last year, a standard for 8-hour ozone concentrations was added to the national standards.

Comparison of Ambient Air Quality Standards

Source: Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Emission Standards: Stationary and Mobile Sources

In addition to ambient air quality standards, emissions standards for both stationary and mobile sources are in place in Thailand. In terms of vehicular emissions standards, Thailand has adopted some of the strictest standards in Asia. Euro II equivalents were introduced for new vehicles. Euro II equivalent standards for new vehicles in the city were enforced in 2001. Euro III standards for light duty vehicles were introduced in 2004 and were also enforced for new heavy duty diesel equipment. The improvement of fuel quality and the implementation of strict vehicle emissions standards were instrumental in reducing the concentrations of ambient and roadside air pollution concentration in the country.

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