Bangkok, March 16th, 2018 – Grab Thailand has provided 2,000 N95 respirator masks to motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok’s central business district areas to reduce the negative health impacts of Bangkok’s air pollution. The drivers will also pass the masks to their passengers. The N95 masks are capable of blocking at least 95 percent of tiny airborne particles 0.3 microns in diameter.

Mr. Vee Charununsiri, Head of Business Development of GrabTaxi (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said: “We have concerned for the health of motorcycle taxi drivers who are frequently exposed to city’s air pollution as they spend an average of 10 hours working on the road. Many of them are our GrabBike driver-partners and we are committed to improve their livelihood. The N95 masks will be also offered to passengers to reduce the exposure to the urban air pollution.”

In late January 2018, Thailand’s capital experienced smog over a period of several days. According to the Pollution Control Department, Bangkok’s air quality level was considered unhealthy for its residents. Assessments showed that the levels of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in most areas in Bangkok were higher than the Thai PM2.5 daily standard of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre of air.