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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
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Toxic air deadlier than tobacco

Children mask up in Baan Jongrak, a community support centre in pollution-hit Chiang Mai, amid worsening air quality on April 17. UNICEF

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats to human health. Every day, 99% of the global population breathes in invisible microparticles from dirty air, which enter our bloodstream and cause damage to our cells and organs. This contributes to 7.9 million deaths around the world every year and is responsible for a host of preventable diseases such as asthma, respiratory disease, stroke, heart attacks, cancer and dementia, as well as low birth weight, stillbirths and miscarriages. Air pollution is now deadlier than tobacco.

In 2023 alone, 10 million people in Thailand sought treatment for pollution-related illnesses. Promisingly, Thailand's Cabinet recently approved the Clean Air Bill for resubmission to parliament for deliberation.

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