We follow Australian cyanide guidelines, says DOE
Hazlan ZakariaPublished: Feb 8, 2013 2:01 AM | Updated: Feb 8, 2013 2:47 PM
The permissible level for hydrogen cyanide gas emissions from gold mining operations near Bukit Koman, Raub, is based on Australian standards, said the Pahang Department of Environment (DOE).
The permissible level for hydrogen cyanide gas emissions from gold mining operations near Bukit Koman, Raub, is based on Australian standards, said the Pahang Department of Environment (DOE).
It has a monitoring station at the Yuh Wah National-Type Chinese School, about one kilometre away from the gold mine.
"The 10ppm on the DOE signboard there is the permissible level of the gas allowed in ambient air as per cyanide management guidelines of the Western Australia department of minerals and energy," disclosed spokesperson Mohd Helmi bin Ahmad in a short emailed statement yesterday to Malaysiakini.
Ppm, or parts per million, is the unit used to measure presence of pollutants in ambient air.
"DOE refers to Australian standards for the moment as we do not yet have our own standards on cyanide gas (emissions)," explained Ahmad Helmi, a senior environmental control officer who heads the DOE's Temerloh field office.
The Ban Cyanide Action Committee (BCAC) yesterday accused the DOE standards of being way in excess of acceptable standards used overseas and also exceeded standards for occupational safety in industrial plants.
BCAC claimed that international standards are at between 0.03ppm to 0.009ppm while industrial occupational safety standards are at 4.57ppm.
Levels recorded at the school, are between an average of 0.5ppm to 0.8ppm, with highest at 1.11ppm.
Levels way above the norm
The DOE benchmark of 10ppm, claims BCAC, is way above the norm, twice industrial safety standards, and way over 0.04ppm, which is what they think safe levels should be.
"The DOE do not have any input on the permissible levels in industrial facilities," clarified Ahmad Helmi claiming that there is no such standard that they are aware of.
The BCAC are embroiled in a tussle with the mining firm and the authorities, demanding that operations at the gold mine - a mere stone's throw away from a village - be stopped or upgraded to curb emissions of the hazardous gas.
The resident group blames years of unexplained respiratory and skin illnesses as being related to the operation of the mine and its resulting hydrogen cyanide fumes.
Raub Australian Gold Mining has denied all allegations and has taken individual activists and the press, including Malaysiakini, which reported the matter to court, alleging defamation.
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It has a monitoring station at the Yuh Wah National-Type Chinese School, about one kilometre away from the gold mine.
"The 10ppm on the DOE signboard there is the permissible level of the gas allowed in ambient air as per cyanide management guidelines of the Western Australia department of minerals and energy," disclosed spokesperson Mohd Helmi bin Ahmad in a short emailed statement yesterday to Malaysiakini.
Ppm, or parts per million, is the unit used to measure presence of pollutants in ambient air."DOE refers to Australian standards for the moment as we do not yet have our own standards on cyanide gas (emissions)," explained Ahmad Helmi, a senior environmental control officer who heads the DOE's Temerloh field office.
The Ban Cyanide Action Committee (BCAC) yesterday accused the DOE standards of being way in excess of acceptable standards used overseas and also exceeded standards for occupational safety in industrial plants.
BCAC claimed that international standards are at between 0.03ppm to 0.009ppm while industrial occupational safety standards are at 4.57ppm.
Levels recorded at the school, are between an average of 0.5ppm to 0.8ppm, with highest at 1.11ppm.
Levels way above the norm
The DOE benchmark of 10ppm, claims BCAC, is way above the norm, twice industrial safety standards, and way over 0.04ppm, which is what they think safe levels should be.
"The DOE do not have any input on the permissible levels in industrial facilities," clarified Ahmad Helmi claiming that there is no such standard that they are aware of.The BCAC are embroiled in a tussle with the mining firm and the authorities, demanding that operations at the gold mine - a mere stone's throw away from a village - be stopped or upgraded to curb emissions of the hazardous gas.
The resident group blames years of unexplained respiratory and skin illnesses as being related to the operation of the mine and its resulting hydrogen cyanide fumes.
Raub Australian Gold Mining has denied all allegations and has taken individual activists and the press, including Malaysiakini, which reported the matter to court, alleging defamation.
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