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00:00Did you know that over the past years, Bangkokians have essentially smoked over 1,000 cigarettes from the polluted air alone?
00:08The PM2.5 in Bangkok is as harmful as smoking.
00:12Breathing air with PM2.5 at 22 micrograms per cubic meter for just one day is equivalent to smoking one cigarette.
00:20PM2.5 particles are 25 times smaller than human hair, making them impossible for our noses to filter.
00:29These particles enter our bloodstream, significantly increase the risk of lung cancer, the second most common cancer in Thailand after liver cancer.
00:38Alarmingly, the number of cases continues to rise.
00:41Experts report that PM2.5 contributes to over 10,000 new lung cancer cases annually in Bangkok alone.
00:49This issue is worse in northern Thailand, where cases are on the rise.
00:54The main culprits? Diesel vehicles, construction activities, and factory emissions, combined with stagnant weather conditions that trap pollutants over the city.
01:03But does spraying water help?
01:05Environmental experts from Chulalongkorn University say that it would take over 30,000 fine mesh sprayers across Bangkok to reduce PM2.5 by just 10 micrograms per cubic meter, a solution that's far from practical.
01:20So, how can you protect yourself?
01:22Wear an N95 mask, keep windows closed, and use an air purifier.
01:26These steps are your best defense against this invisible killer.
01:30Tamarind Somaha, The Nation.