WITH its air quality poorer than most parts of the nation, Johor’s Pasir Gudang is set to be the first industrial area to get an automatic environment monitoring system.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said development in the district, which is home to 250 chemical companies, is unsustainable.

The ministry is taking seriously the unsustainable development and environmental issues there, and will undertake mitigation measures set to be implemented by year-end, she said.

“Pasir Gudang has a baseline air quality that is much more polluted than many other parts of Malaysia.

“It will be the first heavy industrial area in the country to get an environment monitoring system. The design and structure of the station will be decided after a study,” she told a joint press conference with Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in Putrajaya today.

In addition, the Johor government will work on creating buffer zones between chemical factories, and residential areas and schools.

Yeo said she will hold a town-hall session with chemical industry players in the district on Monday.

Dr Dzulkefly said the authorities have yet to be able to pinpoint the chemical agent behind the toxic fumes that have affected 748 people in Pasir Gudang since last week.

“Till now, we are unable to pin down any particular chemical agent.”

Those affected reportedly suffered breathing difficulties. Of the total, 709 received outpatient treatment, and the rest were warded.

Yeo said three gasses, namely methyl mercaptan, which can affect children with asthma, acrylonitrile and acrolein, were detected in a recent air quality reading by her ministry.

However, she said, the gasses were not detected in blood and urine samples taken from patients.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has conducted psychological assessments using “Depression Anxiety Stress Scales” on 10 students.

Six of the 10, aged between 10 and 17, displayed symptoms of anxiety. Three of the students were also affected by the Sg Kim Kim toxic waste crisis in March.

Yeo said such incidents in Pasir Gudang serve as a wake-up call to the government to look into the chemical industry nationwide. – June 28, 2019.