Unhealthy smog greets Bangkok’s new year, nobody is surprised

Tickle in the throat? Red, weepy eyes? You may not have won the Omicron lottery but made the mistake of breathing in Bangkok today.

Air pollution has climbed back into the unhealthy zone just as people return to the office after the holidays. As of 11am, the city’s air pollution had hit an “unhealthy” 124 on IQAir’s index, a stark increase from the moderate-yellow of 82 of noon yesterday.

Pollution Control Department chief Attaphon Charoenchansa yesterday predicted that PM2.5 particulate pollution, the kind small enough to wreak havoc on heart and lungs, is expected to accumulate in the next five days. As per usual, he blamed not the polluters but the people, pegging the rise on weather conditions and upsurge in commuters.

The department has urged people to refrain from burning things in the open, drive sparingly, and monitor air pollution via government…