38 million risk PM2.5-related health threatsAbout 38 million Thais are living in an environment that puts them at risk of falling ill with common diseases associated with prolonged exposure to frequently hazardous levels of PM2.5 ultra-fine dust particles, health authorities warned yesterday. This group constitutes all those people living in areas where PM2.5 levels exceed 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, 15 million of whom -- including children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with respiratory problems -- risk suffering particularly severe health complains, said Dr Danai Teewanda, deputy director-general of the Department of Health. On average, lung cancer, for instance, costs about 200,000 baht per patient per month in healthcare expenses, whereas living in areas with good air quality can largely curb these health problems, he said. Under the new guidelines, WHO halved the recommended limit for average annual PM2.5 level from 10 microgrammes per cubic metre to 5 and average daily PM2.5 level to 15 microgrammes per cubic metre from 25 previously. These guidelines are intended for the governments to refer to when considering adjusting their policies to curb air pollution to better protect the health of their people, she said.
