Thailand and Cambodia join hands to tackle scourage of air pollution on the border (Photo: nationthailand.com)Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand's army and Sa Kaeo provincial administrationhave joined hands with Cambodian authorities in tackling PM2.5 air pollution onthe border between Sa Kaeo province in Thailand’s eastern region and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, reported The Nation newspaper.
Solutionsproposed by the two sides to the problem includesharing information, reducing open waste burning and providing public healthservices to communities affected by smog.
BuraphaCommander Maj-General Theppitak Nimit of Thailand said that a jointmeeting was recently held in Sa Kaeo as a follow up on the meeting of theThai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee that focused on solving the commonenvironmental problems of the two countries.
He saidthat as the major sources of PM2.5 in borders areas were crop burning and forestfires, the joint efforts will focus on patrolling the borders to preventillegal burning, making artificial rain to subdue forest fires, and increasingthe value of harvest leftover to persuade farmers away from crop burning.
The BuraphaCommand will also send patrolling personnel to help inform people in bordercommunities about the impact of PM2.5 and how to properly get rid of harvestleftover, Theppitak added.
PM2.5 refersto dust particles that are 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter and can beeasily inhaled. Long-term exposure to such fine particles has been linked tomany chronic diseases, including acute lung and heart problems./.
