KUALA LUMPUR: THE Department of Environment (DoE) is formulating an action plan to not just speed up its operation to detect gas and toxic pollution in Pasir Gudang, but also to ramp up safety measures.
Once the plan is in place, this will lead to the formulation of
a standard operating procedure (SOP) in handling similar cases nationwide.
DoE director-general Norlin Jaafar said the plan, which would be done in collaboration with the Johor Education Department, was initiated following the government’s call to industrial factories in Pasir Gudang to supply air pollution detectors to schools in the district.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin had urged the factories to “adopt” the schools and equip them with detectors as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.
The plan, Norlin said, would enable the schools to serve as a first responder by identifying air pollution situations when schoolchildren showed air pollution symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and breathing difficulties.
“We are working with the Health Department.
“When someone displays these symptoms, he will be taken to a clinic or hospital. This is the SOP.
“The installation of air pollution detectors in Pasir Gudang schools means that the next step of the SOP will proceed in a more organised manner, as we have a better view of the case and can determine the next course of action.”
Norlin, however, said not all symptoms were triggered by toxic gases or pollutants.
She said the plan, involving the cooperation of the health and education departments, as well as schools, would address how to react to panic attacks among schoolchildren.
“For instance, symptoms of those who are exposed to toxic gases and pollutants can be similar to those experiencing a panic attack.
“Schools, with the aid of air pollution detectors, can assess what the situation is.
“They can contact either the Health Department or DoE for the next course of action, which can help in hastening the action plan process.”
The installation of the detectors in schools here marks the first step in the DoE’s plan.
The department plans to expand its monitoring to residential areas.
Norlin said there was a need for research to be conducted on Pasir Gudang, such as on the ideal number of factories that could be located in the district.
“There is a need for scientific data (on this issue) and we are gathering information. We will continue to monitor these factory operators.