Ministry report improved air quality

ATMOSPHERIC monitoring over the past month revealed no pronounced decline in Cambodia’s air quality, according to the Ministry of Environment.

Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atiya stated on January 29 that the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) ranged from 18.03-21.43 μg/m³, remaining below the ministry’s 50 μg/ m³ 24-hour average standard.

“The air quality in Cambodia, including in the capital and provinces, is improving. The ministry’s assessment was meticulously conducted by expert officials using monitoring equipment at 14 locations in Phnom Penh and 37 locations across the provinces,” he explained.

He added that the air quality index (AQI) is positive and improving, thanks to collaborative efforts between stakeholders and sub-national administrations, alongside certain measures implemented by the ministry.

“In order to curb air pollution effectively, I urge all capital and provincial administrations to continue promoting the implementation of the government’s circular on the reduction and prevention of air pollution affecting towns, districts, communes and the general populace,” Atiya stated.

He said authorities must educate the public against burning forests, grasslands, plastics, agricultural waste and solid waste in open spaces.

“We must collectively work to prevent all the aforementioned types of burning, as well as dust at construction sites and during the transportation of construction materials,” he said.

Atiya added that regular cleaning and dusting of streets and public spaces are necessary.

In early January, the ministry urged the governors of Phnom Penh and all 24 provinces to promote the government’s circular at the municipal, district and community levels to mitigate public air pollution, following observations of declining quality.

“Each year, during the dry season from December to April, the air quality monitored by the ministry in Phnom Penh and provinces nationwide shows a worrying decline,” the ministry stated at the time.

The primary contributors to increased PM2.5 levels include emissions from industrial plants, vehicles, wildfires, and landfills and the burning of grass, agricultural waste, forests, stumps and solid waste, as well as the incineration of plastic waste and dust from construction sites, as per the ministry.