GAW Report No. 205 - IGAC Project

CHAPTER 3 - ASIAFigure 4 - Annual average PM10 concentration in Bangkok from 1995-2008 [PCD, 2008]Figure 5 - Annual average air pollutant concentrations in the general area of Bangkok from 2003-2008Relationships of the trends to regulationsThe air quality management programme in BMR follows the policy and prospective plan ofThailand. This programme covers enhancement and conservation of natural environmental quality,which is a cross-sectoral operation involving the environment, transport, and urban dimensions. Theair quality management policy of Thailand for 1997-2016 focuses on the following key issues: (1) airquality in pollution control zones and urban areas, particularly on dust, (2) other pollutants inambient air, particularly on carbon monoxide, and (3) air pollutants in industrial zones and generalcommunities, particularly on sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, to be within designated AmbientAir Quality Standards [Supat, 1999].Successful stories include the phasing out of leaded gasoline, establishment of oxygenatedgasoline, reducing sulphur content in diesel, and development of the standard for low-smoke 2Tlubricating oil. Phasing out of lead in gasoline, starting in January 1996, has substantially reducedPb in ambient air (Figure 6). At present, lead concentration in ambient air is much lower than thestandard. Recently, due to the concern of toxic effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs),VOC ambient air quality standards have been established [PCD, 2006].66