A thick layer of smog descended over Bangkok this morning sparking health warnings.

The air pollution haze enveloped the Thai capital and could be seen for miles around - encompassing office blocks and sky scrapers while falling onto homes and roads.

The Pollution Control Department reported that 21 areas of Greater Bangkok had unsafe levels of particulates smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the air.  The safe limit is 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre, but some parts of the city had reached close to 100.

The smog cloud sparked fears that many people could suffer from breathing problems and eye irritation.

Thai officials warned that the air quality would be classified as ''moderate to starting to affect health''.

They advised children, elderly residents, pregnant women and anyone with breathing problems to stay in doors as much as possible.

A thick layer of smog descended over Bangkok this morning sparking health warnings.

The air pollution haze enveloped the Thai capital and could be seen for miles around - encompassing office blocks and sky scrapers while falling onto homes and roads.

Officials blamed the increased pollution on higher temperatures, a lack of wind and the return to traffic as usual following the long New Year’s holiday.



The Pollution Control Department reported that 21 areas of Greater Bangkok had unsafe levels of particulates smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the air.  The safe limit is 50 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre, but some parts of the city had reached close to 200.

The smog cloud sparked fears that many people could suffer from breathing problems and eye irritation.

Thai officials warned that the air quality would be classified as ''moderate to starting to affect health''.

They advised children, elderly residents, pregnant women and anyone with breathing problems to stay in doors as much as possible.