Bangkok residents are being urged to work from home after the amount of toxic substances in the air rose to dangerous levels.

The hope is that the eleven million residents of Thailand's capital will be out in traffic as little as possible – partly to avoid breathing the dangerous air on the streets, and partly to cause as few new emissions as possible.

PM2.5 levels have risen to 15 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) limit. PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous particle, and is so small that it can travel from the lungs into the bloodstream.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has held emergency meetings on the issue, saying that ”we must act immediately.” He also wants to encourage continued electrification of mopeds, cars and trucks in the long term, while traffic with the more polluting gasoline and diesel vehicles may be limited in the city.

Source: Aftonbladet.se