Bangkok:The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has initiated a comprehensive campaign to tackle pollution across all 25 districts of the city. A specialized team known as "dust detectives" has been deployed to monitor pollution levels as part of a broader pollution control strategy.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pornprom Na Wikitseth, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, chaired a significant meeting focused on improving air quality in the city. The discussion, held at Bangkok City Hall, involved network agencies working together to devise data-driven solutions to the PM2.5 air pollution crisis. A key focus of the meeting was the development of a PM2.5 vulnerability index map for all 50 districts, which will assess exposure levels, population sensitivity, and coping mechanisms.
The BMA is also set to enhance its pollution response plan at the district level, starting with a pilot program in 25 districts. These districts are categorized by pollution sources, such as burning areas, traffic-heavy zones, industrial regions, and areas under comprehensive monitoring. Proactive measures include monitoring black smoke, expanding air quality stations to 1,000 sub-district points, and the establishment of "Environmental Inspectors" or "Dust Detectives" to oversee pollution tracking. Additionally, during severe pollution episodes, the city plans to enforce Low Emission Zone (LEZ) measures to mitigate health risks.
The meeting also proposed forming a governance and data integration working group to standardize data use across agencies. Collaboration with the Department of Health aims to improve the Air Quality Index for Health and develop a public notification system for daily health risk updates via LINE OA. Furthermore, the BMA is organizing a Public Policy Forum on November 17, 2026, to discuss the outcomes of the Phase 1 Clean Air Project and unveil the white paper, 'Clean Air, Data and Community Actions for Equitable Health and Wellbeing,' in partnership with the Clean Air Fund.