PHNOM PENH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Air quality in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh and three provinces has declined due to an increase in PM2.5 inert particles in the air, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment said on Friday.

Khvay Atitya, who is also an undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Environment, said Cambodia regularly monitored air quality in Phnom Penh and all provinces every year from December to April to detect PM10 and PM2.5 air particles.

"Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong and Siem Reap provinces and Phnom Penh capital city are in the red air quality index with an increase in the concentration of inert particles with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in the air," he said.

He added that the increase in the concentration of air pollutants in the atmosphere was related to climate change, which caused an increase in PM2.5 inert particles floating in the air.

PM2.5 was produced by industrial factories, diesel-driven vehicles, forest fires, grass and agricultural waste burning, and rubbish and solid waste burning at construction sites, public areas and rubbish dumps, among others.

The spokesperson also urged local authorities to take measures to help improve air quality by educating people not to burn trash, grass, plastic waste, agricultural waste, solid waste, and other materials in open spaces. Enditem

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