Air Pollution and Workers’ Health in Cambodia’s Garment Sector

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in March 2023, examines air pollution and its health impacts on workers in Cambodia's garment sector. Based on a study of 16 factories, it finds that while particulate matter levels generally complied with national standards and WHO guidelines on the day of assessment, there is a significant lack of worker awareness regarding air quality and its health risks. The document highlights the gendered nature of the workforce and recommends strengthening national air quality standards, improving gender-inclusive safety policies, and increasing worker education.

• Air quality monitoring in 16 garment factories showed that particulate matter levels complied with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Cambodian national standards on the day of assessment. However, five factories exhibited indoor PM2.5 concentrations that were substantially higher than outdoor levels, and wood-burning factories showed higher exceedance of reference particulate matter measures.
• Direct fuel consumption at factories is the primary source of air pollutants, with wood-burning factories being the most polluting in terms of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). While direct consumption drives these pollutants, indirect emissions from power stations are the largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2).
• There is a significant gap in worker understanding of air pollution; 99% of interviewed workers viewed workplace air quality as satisfactory, but most conflated 'air quality' with temperature. Despite this lack of understanding, every worker interviewed reported experiencing at least one symptom related to air pollution.
• The garment sector is characterized by a stark gender imbalance, with women making up approximately 80% of the workforce. The industry shows a preference for employing young women who often migrate from rural areas. While perceptions of air quality did not differ significantly by gender, women reported a slightly higher incidence of symptoms occurring 'often'.
• Factory owners' efforts to manage air quality are inconsistent; while all 16 interviewed owners reported taking some action (such as providing PPE or installing ventilation), only 50% conducted air quality monitoring on a regular basis (annually or six-monthly).
• The document recommends that Cambodia strengthen its national air quality standards to align with WHO standards and ensure that new safety codes, such as the Occupation Safety and Health Code, are gender-inclusive to address specific risks for women, including those during pregnancy.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). Air Pollution and Workers’ Health in Cambodia’s Garment Sector. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/air-pollution-garment-workers-cambodia-sei2023.017.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Air Pollution and Workers’ Health in Cambodia’s Garment Sector. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/air-pollution-garment-workers-cambodia-sei2023.017.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Air Pollution and Workers’ Health in Cambodia’s Garment Sector |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/air-pollution-garment-workers-cambodia-sei2023.017.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendair, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Air Pollution and Workers’ Health in Cambodia’s Garment Sector}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/air-pollution-garment-workers-cambodia-sei2023.017.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }