The Pursat Provincial Department of Environment has urged residents to stop burning solid waste at home or setting fires in public areas.
The Pursat Provincial Department of Environment has urged residents to stop burning solid waste at home or setting fires in public areas. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen to a “red” level, indicating that the air in the province is currently the worst in the Kingdom.
Recent testing by the department indicated that the air quality has deteriorated due to the burning of solid waste in homes, burning of rice husks, burning of grass, setting fire to forests for hunting, and other activities. This has caused air quality issues and could negatively impact the health of the population.
The department has advised all residents to “cooperate by stopping the burning of solid waste at homes or in public areas”.
Residents are advised to collect solid waste in bins and use waste collection services to properly dispose of waste at designated landfills or bury it correctly.
The department also advised halting the burning of wood, cutting down trees, burning stumps for hunting and burning rice husks, leaves, grass or industrial waste.
Strong recommendations were also issued for community members to be cautious when using fires for cooking, collecting honey, smoking tobacco and harvesting non-timber forest products.
On February 3, the Ministry of Environment issued a notice regarding the air quality situation in Cambodia.
It advised that from 6pm of February 3 to 6am the following morning, particulate matter levels averaged 41.07 µg/m3, which is below the standard of 50 µg/m3 and is classified as “good” on the Air Quality Index.
The ministry clarified that Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Kratie, Phnom Penh, Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, Stung Treng, Takeo, Kep, Svay Rieng, Oddor Meanchey and Tbong Khmum provinces fell into the “blue” band, signifying very good air quality.
Kandal, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Banteay Meanchey, and Preah Sihanouk tested “green”, indicating good air quality.
In the “yellow” category, indicating moderate air quality, were Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Siem Reap and Koh Kong.
Pursat province, however, measured “red”, indicating a dangerous level of air pollution.
