The Ministry of Environment has installed 49 air quality monitors in 25 locations to monitor and check air quality after an increase of inert particle concentration PM2.5 in January.
Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told reporters on November 3 that the ministry is monitoring air quality across the country. It has installed air quality monitors in 11 locations In Phnom Penh alone and 38 in 24 provinces.
“We see the air quality in Phnom Penh and the provinces is below standard. The standard set by the environment ministry is 50 AQI [Air Quality Index]. Air quality fluctuates between 15 and 30 to 40 only, and doesn’t reach 50,” he said.
Pheaktra said air quality in the country is good, and the ministry has taken measures to prevent air pollution. These measures include the enactment of sub-decrees on air pollution control, such as construction site management and requiring gas stations to sell high-quality fuel to cut down on emissions into the atmosphere.
The ministry informed the municipal and provincial environment departments on January 17 to cooperate with the sub-national administrations to implement measures to maintain good air quality in Cambodia.
These measures include wildfire prevention, prohibiting the burning of solid waste in the open and fires at landfills.
“We must also have measures to prevent emissions from construction sites and infrastructure improvements. We need to clean the streets and water the streets to prevent dust and educate people not to burn rubbish, solid waste, grass, stumps, walls and other agricultural waste,” Pheaktra said.
He said an increase of inert particle concentration PM2.5 in the air happens in countries in the region due to the dry climate.
According to the ministry, inert particles concentrations PM2.5 are tiny inert particles in the air with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 microns. Inert particles come from burning fossil fuels and other dust particles. These inert particles can be absorbed into the lungs and sometimes blood vessels and are harmful to human health if absorbed beyond the limit.
