Tag: Cambodia

Building Capacity for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Monitoring: EANET Successfully Concludes the 2024 Annual Meeting and Training

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

21 November 2024 – Niigata, Japan

In October 2024, ACAP, serving as the Network Center (NC) for the EANET successfully concluded both the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Project’s Annual Meeting and Training at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS), Japan. The NC for the EANET is implementing the  Project Capacity Building in Promoting VOCs in the EANET, approved by the Twenty-fifth Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) in 2023, with the financial support of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ).

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EANET VOC Annual Meeting Reviews Progress and Discusses Plans for 2025

The VOCs Annual Meeting took place at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS),  in Saitama, Japan, on October 22nd and 23rd 2024 and gathered the VOCs Advisory Group members as well as members from the Participating Countries including Cambodia, China, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, responsible for overseeing this project. The goal of the meeting was to review the progress to date and develop a detailed plan for 2025 focusing mainly on monitoring methods, sites, and timing.

The Annual Meeting was conducted both in-person at CESS and online. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Mitsuo Uematsu, President of CESS, and Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), moderated by Dr. Meihua Zhu, Chief Senior Researcher of the Planning and Training Department of ACAP. Each Participating Country shared their project progress in 2024 and their monitoring and related capacity building plan. During the meeting, Dr. Soo Ran Won, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, gave a special talk entitled: a Research Introduction on the “First measurement report for Volatile Organic Compounds’ characteristics during winter in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia”. During the Annual Meeting, participants reviewed the progress of the project’s activities in 2024 and discussed the activity plan for 2025.

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Participants at the Annual VOCs Meeting and during the field visit to GL Sciences

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On the second day, on October 23rd, a site survey of an VOCs’ instrument manufacturer was conducted at GL Sciences, Saitama prefecture, Japan. The site survey included an introduction to GL Sciences and to their support system, air analysis instruments, and related products. It also consisted of a laboratory tour and presentation of various equipments’ usage such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with canister concentrator, GC-MS with thermal desorption, sampling and related tools, and air sampler for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

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Highlights of the Training – VOCs Monitoring and Measurement

The Training Program for VOCs Monitoring and Measurement was held at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS), Japan, from October 21st to 25th 2024. To conduct the training in a cost- and time-efficient manner, online lectures were provided to the trainees prior to the hands-on training in Japan. The proposed curriculum for online training consisted of three parts: a background introduction to VOCs, an introduction to VOCs’ monitoring methodologies, and an introduction to case studies on VOCs’ monitoring. Five participants from Cambodia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, in charge of VOCs monitoring and lab work and part of EANET VOCs project, participated to the training. The VOCs Advisory Group members, CESS, and the NC actively provided support.

On the first two days, Mr. Kouki Sasaka, Group Reader, Atmospheric Environment Group, CESS, and Dr. Yujiro Ichikawa, Researcher, Atmospheric Environment Group, CESS, provided lectures on canister and flow controller including on canister cleaning, flow controller cleaning and flow adjustment, canister sampling, dilutor, preparation of standard gas, pre-concentrator and GC/MS. From October 24 to the afternoon of the 25th, a representative from Nishikawa Keisoku Co., Ltd. presented a lecture on standard and sample measurement (Preconcentrator-GC/MS), data analysis, and the daily maintenance of GC/MS. In the afternoon of October 25, a lecture on air sampling pumps, sorbent tubes (both active and passive), and Low-Cost Sensors was shared by a representative of Sibata Scientific Technology Ltd.  During the closing session, Dr. Akio Imai, Research Director at the CESS presented the completion certificate to the trainees on behalf of the program organizers.

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VOCs trainees from Cambodia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, and with their completion certificates

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The successful conclusion of the VOCs Project’s Annual Meeting and Training in 2024 strengthens EANET countries’ capacity to monitor and manage VOC emissions. Through collaboration, hands-on training, and advanced monitoring technologies, the initiative sets a solid foundation for improving air quality monitoring in the region.

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Find out more about the EANET Projects.

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Useful Resources

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

Joint SATREPS–EANET Training Advances PM2.5 Source Apportionment Capacity in Cambodia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

15 January 2025

From 1–5 December 2025, EANET and the Japanese Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) jointly organized a five-day hybrid training program focused on PM2.5 chemical analysis and source apportionment techniques, in Niigata, Japan to support air quality monitoring in Cambodia and in Southeast Asia. The initiative, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA SATREPS) and the EANET Project Fund (Project 2025-01), gathered seven Cambodian researchers and government officials, as well as experts from Kanazawa University and Nagasaki University. A total of 232 participants joined onsite and online.

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Strengthening Monitoring and Analysis for Southeast Asia

Opening on 1 December, the training took place in Niigata, Japan, at the Asia Center for Pollution Research (ACAP), serving as the Network Center for the EANET. The training started with an introduction to the ongoing AIR-SATREPS project “Establishment of a Risk Management Platform for Air Pollution in Cambodia”, implemented by Kanazawa University with the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. The project aims to reinforce air monitoring infrastructure, establish analytical capacity for particulate matter, and support local practitioners in managing air pollution challenges.

EANET’s Network Center provided additional context on regional cooperation and emerging priorities, including VOCs monitoring, and the newly adopted Medium-Term Plan for the EANET (2026–2030).

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Hands-On PM2.5 Components Training

On 2–3 December, participants took part in onsite laboratory sessions on inorganic ion analysis using PM2.5 roll tape samples. Lectures and demonstrations from Nagasaki University and the EANET Network Center emphasized Ion Chromatography (IC) procedures and data processing. The training also focused on Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) to improve the precision of analytical outputs, an essential step for source apportionment studies.

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Applying the PMF Method for Source Apportionment

On 3–4 December, participants explored the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling technique, used globally to identify air pollution sources from particulate matter data. Practical exercises guided trainees through model installation, running simulations with demonstration datasets, and matching factor profiles with known emission indicators. Case studies from Japan, Thailand, and Viet Nam illustrated how PMF analysis informs air quality management policies in the region.

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Broader Insights: Haze Detection and VOCs Monitoring

The final day featured lectures on haze prediction technologies, including satellite observation, emission inventories, and Chemical Transport Models. A session on EANET’s Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring project showcased measurement methods and initial results from field studies in Mongolia, the Philippines, and Cambodia, with plans to develop technical guidance for VOCs monitoring in the EANET countries in the near future.

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Find out more about the EANET Project Fund.

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Useful Resources:

-Read the training summary

– Read the Procedures for PMF Analysis

-Read the Lecture of Methodology of PMF analysis / Practice of PMF analysis using demo data

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Photo credits: cover photo by Daniel Bernard (2020); other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

Assessing Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment in Southeast Asia: Second Meeting of the EANET Project

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

21 June 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

On May 29, 2024, the Secretariat for the EANET organized the project meeting “Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia” at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT-RRC.AP), as a side event to the EANET Regional Workshop in 2024, bringing together 28 participants from various countries and organizations.

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The Second Meeting of the EANET Project on Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia

Following a first kick-off meeting organized in  April 2024, this second meeting of this project aimed to share updates on emissions inventories (EI) and source apportionment (SA) studies across Southeast Asia, which are crucial for understanding and managing air pollution in the region.

Representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, and international organizations including the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia;  the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology (IGCE), Russia; the French Centre Interprofessionnel Technique d’Etudes de la Pollution Atmosphérique (CITEPA); Clean Air Asia (CAA); the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia; the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (JGSEE-KMUTT); the Asia Center For Air Pollution Research (ACAP) and the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG) joined the meeting. Participants discussed the current state of EI and SA, identified challenges, and explored potential solutions for harmonizing data collection and methodology.

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Assessing Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment Capabilities and Data in Southeast Asia

Mr. Bert Fabian, EANET Coordinator, opened the session by emphasizing the project’s significance, which seeks to compile and assess EI and SA studies to support policy formulation in Southeast Asia. Dr. R. L. Verma from RRC.AP presented a survey-based assessment of institutional capabilities in the region. His findings revealed that while most countries have designated agencies for EI, there are significant gaps in specific regulations and resources. Dr. Truong Thi Huyen from AIT presented updates on the analytical framework for assessing EI and SA development in Southeast Asian countries, highlighting key findings, compilation strategies, and the next steps with an expected timeframe.

A key takeaway from the discussions was the necessity for a harmonized approach to developing and sharing EI and SA data. Participants highlighted the role of governments in overseeing data collection and ensuring its accessibility. They also noted the importance of local emission factors and the involvement of academic institutions in developing these factors.

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Harmonizing the Emission Inventories and Source Apportionment methodologies and data collection

The meeting featured two panel discussions. The first panel focused on experiences from EANET Participating Countries, while the second addressed challenges in harmonizing EI and SA methodologies and data collection. Experts from various organizations shared insights on engaging government participation, ensuring data quality, and formulating effective policies. The project meeting underscored the critical need for regional cooperation and effective data management to tackle air pollution challenges in Southeast Asia.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Fabian thanked the participants for their active engagement and emphasized the next steps, including further collaboration and capacity building to address air pollution in Southeast Asia.

The project Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia is being conducted with the support of the EANET Project Fund.

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View the meeting’s photos.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

Highlights from the EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 17 April 2024

The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia – Understanding Air Pollution and its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Cambodia, was held in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, on 19 March 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), back-to-back with UNEP’s Cambodia Clean Air and Sustainable Transport Workshop, held on 18-19 March. About 30 participants joined the Workshop. The workshop aimed to promote the EANET’s achievements, gain insight into Cambodia’s specific needs related to air quality management, and foster the development of additional initiatives to assist in addressing acid deposition and air pollution.

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Opening Session

The meeting started with Opening Remarks from Dr. Chou Monidarin, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environment Cambodia, and the National Focal Point of Cambodia for the EANET, followed by an introduction to the EANET and to the objectives of the meeting by Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET. Prof. Meng Fan, Deputy Director General of the Network Center for the EANET, the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) then presented the activities of the EANET on air quality and acid deposition management, air pollution trends in the region, and the main activities of the EANET including monitoring, capacity building and technical support to Participating Countries.

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EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia
Group photo of participants on the first day of the workshop (photo by Clean Air Asia)

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Assessing Cambodia’s Air Quality Landscape, Dynamics and Initiatives

Mr. Chandath Him outlined Cambodia’s air quality, citing primary pollution sources as older vehicles and industrial plants. With over 6.6 million registered motorcycles and cars since 1990, along with 1,859 operational industrial plants, pollution also stems from construction activities and agricultural practices. He highlighted the significance of airborne dust due to unpaved streets and construction, and discussed ongoing initiatives on monitoring like satellite projects and Low-Cost Sensors (LCS). Cambodia is updating its air pollution laws, including new vehicle emission standards, fines, and industry controls, with Euro 5/V standards enforced from January 2027. He introduced Cambodia’s Clean Air Plan, analyzing pollutants and proposing mitigation measures to reduce air pollution and combat climate change, aiming for integrated planning and coordinated management efforts.

Dr. Chanmoly OR, Director of the Research and Innovation Center at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia presented an analysis of the complex interplay between topography, weather, and air pollution in Cambodia. Favorable wind circulation aids in pollutant dispersion, while factors including humidity, temperature, and precipitation also influence air quality. The presentation underscored the need for comprehensive research to understand pollution sources better coming mainly from the the transport and construction sectors in urban areas, and from open-burning and agriculture, in rural areas, including emerging concerns such as microplastics particle pollution.

Dr. Anantaa Pandey outlined the Global Green Growth Institute‘s (GGGI) efforts to enhance air quality in Cambodia, focusing on emissions inventories, public transportation improvement, and capacity building. The program aims to address challenges such as equipment maintenance, expand monitoring infrastructure, and develop emission control strategies tailored to Cambodia’s context.

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Strategies for Effective Air Pollution Management

The discussion segment saw active participation from experts and policymakers, emphasizing the urgency of addressing air pollution through multifaceted strategies. Participants highlighted the importance of upgrading vehicle emission standards, promoting cleaner fuels, and regulating industrial emissions. Challenges such as economic constraints and the high cost of fuel upgrades were acknowledged, with suggestions for phased transitions and international support.

The EANET meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for concerted efforts to combat air pollution in Cambodia. Key takeaways included the importance of robust monitoring infrastructure, innovative solutions tailored to local contexts, and international collaboration. The meeting underscored the critical role of initiatives like EANET in guiding Cambodia towards a cleaner and healthier future.

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Useful Resources

-Read the Panelists’ Presentations:

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Photo credits: cover photo of Phnom Penh (2022) by allPhoto Bangkok, group photo by Clean Air Asia.

 

Advancing Atmospheric and Environmental Monitoring in Asia: Technical Missions Supporting EANET Countries in 2023 and 2024

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 20 February 2024

The Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), as the Network Center (NC) for the EANET, has undertaken a series of technical missions aimed at supporting EANET Participating Countries to conduct their monitoring activities, e.g. Wet and Dry Deposition of atmospheric pollutants, inland, soil & vegetation and catchment monitoring, and meteorological data. From Mongolia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Cambodia, these missions have sought to enhance environmental monitoring capabilities and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders.

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Enhancing Monitoring Infrastructures in Mongolia

In Mongolia, the technical mission took place from 12th to 19th November 2023 in Ulaanbaatar and focused on updating monitoring site information and providing advanced technical guidance on the analysis of ion chromatography results. Additionally, a new rain sensor was deployed to enhance data accuracy. Meetings with the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM), the Central Laboratory of Environment and Meteorology (CLEM), the German-Mongolia Institute for Resources and Technology (GMIT), and the National University of Mongolia took place and aimed at deepening the understanding of EANET activities, particularly in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring. Successful training sessions on VOCs monitoring, utilizing the sorbent tubes method, were conducted to reinforce local capacities.

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Technical Knowledge Exchange in Indonesia

The technical mission in Indonesia took place from 11th to 16th December 2023 in Jakarta and Bandung, in partnership with the Secretariat for the EANET. It involved collaboration with laboratories affiliated with EANET activities. Visits were made to key institutions such as the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, PSILKH Serpong, BMKG Jakarta, and BRIN Bandung, where technical guidance was provided, and feedback was collected. Discussions revolved around potential institutional arrangements to strengthen EANET implementation in Indonesia, promoting improved coordination and efficiency in environmental monitoring. During the mission, the NC representatives also met with the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss possible collaboration opportunities.

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Pictures from the technical missions in Cambodia, Mongolia, and Lao PDR (Indonesia: see cover image above).
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Strengthening Monitoring Infrastructures in Lao PDR

In Lao PDR, the technical mission took place in Vientiane, from the 11th to 15th December 2023. A visit was made to the Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute (NRERI), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE). It included a comprehensive assessment of monitoring infrastructures and procedures. Maintenance work was undertaken on monitoring equipment, including the Wet-Only sampler and Filter Pack, to ensure precise data collection. Technical guidance was shared on inspection procedures and analytical methodologies, particularly focusing on ion chromatography. Additionally, knowledge exchange through meetings and discussions on EANET activities facilitated enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.

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Sustaining Environmental Monitoring Efforts in Cambodia

The mission in Cambodia took place in Phnom Penh, from the 8th to the 12th of January 2024. It focused on sustaining continuous monitoring efforts for various pollutants. A visit was made to the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, to provide maintenance and calibration of the ozone monitor, which was installed in 2019 through the IBAQ Programme, alongside training sessions to ensure effective ozone data reporting. Technical assistance was extended for repairing sampling systems and optimizing ion chromatography procedures, thereby strengthening the country’s capacity for environmental monitoring.

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The NC for the EANET’s technical missions across Mongolia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Cambodia have aimed at enhancing environmental monitoring capabilities and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. By providing specialized technical expertise and facilitating knowledge exchange, these missions significantly contribute to assisting Participating Countries’ efforts to provide high-quality air quality monitoring data and improve technical capabilities in the Region. The NC will conduct more technical missions in 2024 to support other EANET Participating Countries.

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Find out more about the EANET monitoring sites and download EANET data.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia

1. Background and Objectives:

EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative focusing on creating a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, providing useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promoting cooperation among 13 Participating Countries (PCs) countries in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, including Cambodia. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to cover broader air pollution issues and established a Project Fund mechanism to promote cooperation with other organizations outside of EANET.

EANET’s activities are guided by its five-year Medium-Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the Participating Countries every year. In 2024, the Secretariat for the EANET is organizing national stakeholder awareness workshops to promote EANET, better understand specific country needs, support the implementation of projects, and develop more projects and activities to support the Participating Countries’ efforts to address acid deposition and air pollution.

The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia – Understanding Air Pollution and its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Cambodia, will be held in Phnom Phen, Cambodia on 19 March 2024, from 13:30 to 16:40 (ICT), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia and UNEP, back-to-back with UNEP’s Cambodia Clean Fuels and Vehicles Workshop, held on 18-19 March.

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2. Format:

The meeting will be held in person at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Phen, in Cambodia. Participation in the meeting is by invitation only.

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3. Draft Agenda:

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Contact the Secretariat for the EANET for more information.

The Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

30 November 2023 – Hanoi, Viet Nam

The Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) (IG25) took place from 29 to 30 November 2023, in Hanoi, Viet Nam and online. Over 70 representatives from the EANET Participating Countries, UNEP and ACAP, the Secretariat and Network Center for the EANET, participated in the discussions related to the network’s 2024 activities and to address air quality issues in the region.

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Regional Cooperation Fighting Acid Deposition and Air Pollution

Hosted and chaired by Viet Nam, the IG25 started with the Welcome Remarks by His Excellency Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Vice Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), followed by opening Remarks by Ms. Marlene Nielsson, Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP, and by Dr. Hatakeyama, Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).

His Excellency Mr. Le Cong Thanh delivering the Opening Remarks.

His Excellency Mr. Le Cong Thanh emphasized the significant challenges of air pollution and acid deposition in Viet Nam and globally. He highlighted the efforts of MONRE in developing legal frameworks and a nationwide monitoring network and expressed appreciation for the EANET’s contributions over the past twenty years. Ms. Nilsson underscored the significance of multilateralism in tackling environmental challenges, particularly acid deposition and air pollution, highlighting EANET’s expanded role in policy actions and capacity building for improved air quality. Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama highlighted the successful outcomes of the expansion of scope and the Project Fund adopted two years ago, specifically citing the Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) project’s positive results with Low-Cost Sensors (LCS).

The IG25 Session was chaired by Viet Nam, vice-chaired by Lao PDR and Cambodia, and Thailand was elected Rapporteur.

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Over US$600,000 allocated to Building Government Capacity and Addressing Air Quality Management Issues in the Region

In addition to the Core Budget of the EANET to support its activities focused on monitoring, and supporting its meetings, the IG25 approved eleven EANET Projects in 2024 primarily focusing on capacity building for government officials but also concerning key air quality management-related issues such as on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), low-cost sensors (LCS), emissions inventories, and source apportionment projects in the region.

The EANET Projects for 2024 received funding through the EANET Project Fund, EANET’s financial mechanism allowing collaboration with implementation partners and co-financing from outside the EANET Network.

The total funding for Project Activities in 2024 is $605,000, including funding from the EANET Secretariat and NC funds, additional financial support from Japan (MOEJ), and from the Republic of Korea (NIER).

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Ways forward

In addition to these key decisions, the IG25 also approved several important documents, such as the Work Program and Budget of the EANET in 2024, including the organization of key meetings in 2024 such as the Working Group Meeting in 2024 (WG2024), the 24th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC24) and the 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET (IG26), and the process to finalize the revision of the EANET’s Administrative and Financial Guidelines and of the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline.

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Read the Report of IG25 and discover the meeting’s pictures on Flickr.

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Photos credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

EANET Research Fellowship Programme – Study on the impacts of air pollution transport and its effects to human health in Cambodia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

17 February 2021 – Niigata, Japan

The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)’s fellowship programme aims at funding researchers from the EANET’s Participating Countries to carry out research pertaining to acid deposition at the Network Center in Japan. Kong Savuth, from Cambodia, was awarded the EANET fellowship in 2018. Mr. Savuth’s research described human health effects of exposure to air pollutants, namely, ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM2.5) in reference to the WHO Air quality guidelines (2005).

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Impacts of air pollutants on human health

PM2.5 can penetrate deep inside the lungs and contribute to increasing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases including lung cancer. According to recent epidemiological studies, reducing the annual average PM2.5 concentrations of 10 μg m-3 could result in a significant reduction of premature mortality.

Ground-level O3 can cause respiratory problems leading to asthma, cough, inflammation of the respiratory tract, chronic bronchitis, and lung damage. A high-level concentration of O3 also causes premature mortality.

WHO estimates that in 2016, some 58% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischaemic heart disease and strokes, while 18% of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute lower respiratory infections respectively, and 6% of deaths were due to lung cancer.

 

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Estimating premature mortality caused by PM2.5 and O3 in Cambodia

The researchers (Savuth and Yamashita) estimated premature mortality caused by the exposure to PM2.5 and O3 in Cambodia by using PM2.5 and O3 data simulated by CMAQ (Community Multiscale Air Quality – a chemical transport model) and Concentration-Response (C-R) functions.

 

Read the full study and its results, published in the EANET Science Bulletin, Vol 5.

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Under the EANET Research Fellowship programme 2018, this study was conducted at the Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Niigata, Japan. The researcher, Kong Savuth, acknowledged the support and facilities provide by ACAP and by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan, for performing the research.

Photo credits: Cambodia by Daniel Kirsch, free of the copyright license.