The Ministry of Environment ordered a car spray-painting garage to suspend all painting operations immediately after odours disturbed residents, posed public health risks and affected air quality. Operations must remain suspended until the owner fully implements environmental measures and completes the relevant legal procedures.
According to the ministry, the suspension was ordered on July 24, 2026, when specialists from its General Directorate of Environmental Protection and the Phnom Penh Department of Environment inspected the វណ្ណៈ ហេង garage in ទំនប់ village, Phnom Penh Thmei commune, Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh, following residents’ complaints about car-paint odours. They found that spray-painting was being carried out without proper systems to manage and prevent air pollution, allowing paint mist and hazardous chemical vapours to escape directly into the surrounding air.
The ministry said the pollution caused disturbing odours, affected air quality and created public health risks. The garage had also failed to fulfil environmental protection obligations and requirements under the Environment and Natural Resources Code and other applicable laws.
Ministry spokesperson ខ្វៃ អាទិត្យា said: “Protecting public health and the environment is a shared responsibility. The Ministry of Environment encourages all businesses to conduct their activities in full compliance with environmental laws and regulations and to implement pollution prevention and reduction measures to protect communities and their surroundings.”
According to ខ្វៃ អាទិត្យា, the ministry’s priority is to help operators understand and fulfil their environmental obligations. However, where violations put people’s health or the environment at risk, the ministry will take legal action.
Car paints contain several hazardous substances, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents, heavy metals and fine airborne particles. Exposure can cause respiratory illness, eye and skin irritation, headaches, dizziness and other health problems. Long-term exposure may increase the risk of chronic lung disease, neurological disorders and certain cancers. Uncontrolled emissions of these substances also contribute to air, soil and water pollution and affect nearby ecosystems.
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
