Assessment of people’s perception of air quality in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia

Air pollution is one of the regional and global ranking environmental issues, and certainly, become worthy of attention in terms of health concerns. The aims of this study are to monitor and measure particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as to study the people’s perception of air quality and their willingness to contribute to controlling air pollution in Phnom Penh. Realtime data of PM2.5 concentration was monitored from October 2018 through January 2019 by using a light-scattering sensor in downtown Chamkar Mon, Tuoll kork, and Chraoy Changva districts which were the places remarked as highly trafficked. The design questionnaire on the perception of people on air pollution and air quality was assessed through an online form called the KoboToolbox application, using simple random sampling. PM2.5 concentrations ranges from 14.879 to 33.481 µg/m3. The concentration found, is obviously above the standard level of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set. The air quality becomes deteriorated, while participants’ subjective assessment of air quality mostly has a neutral opinion. They don’t seem to take careful attention to how air quality becomes which reveals a significant difference between people’s perceptions and reality. Most participants have a negative impression greatly on vehicles. Seventy-seven and a haft percent of participants recognize vehicles as the main pollution sources followed by industrial facilities, open burning, construction sites, and BBQ restaurants by 52.50 %, 25.83 %, 24.16 %, and 5 %, respectively. Haft of the participants (50.83 %) are unaware of what is sub-degree 2000 related to air quality and noise management still, 65 % of participants give a positive attitude concerning the willingness to report air pollution cases regardless of incentive. Nearly 80 % of participants utilize social media, Facebook to perceive knowledge and related information about air. The result of the survey questionnaire in this study will be an initiative for policymakers to enhance legislative on-air quality management. However, the collective responsibility of society and individual contributors play important role in air quality control measures. Government should educate people about the peak period of air pollution in the city, by educating them on how important prevention is on the Facebook platform.