INGENIEUR
inventories from 1,284 suppliers with Selangor recording the highest number of suppliers . However , only 3,399 inventories were accepted after being processed . These 3,399 inventories were found to include 6,9835 chemicals . Figure 3 illustrates the number of inventories versus number of chemicals by states in Malaysia .
Total accumulated quantity of chemicals submitted through CIMS in 2019 was 297,245,489 tonnes , which was much less than the quantity in 2018 . This could be due to the fact that the world including Malaysia was plagued with the global pandemic of Covid-19 which has affected its economy . Only essential sectors were allowed to be in operation during the early stage of the pandemic followed by other sectors gradually . The comparison between total hazardous chemicals from the year 2015 to 2019 is illustrated in Figure 4 .
CIMS can also be used to determine the quantity of chemicals classified under physical hazards , health hazards and environmental hazards . These hazard classes can be used by policy makers to strategise and correlate links between the quantity of chemicals and health hazards and occupational diseases . It was found from CIMS that hazards from chemicals exist all over Malaysia irrespective of specific states or industrialised states . It is also worth emphasising that 24 % of the chemicals imported or manufactured in Malaysia are carcinogenic chemicals while 60 % of the submissions consist of chemicals which can harm target organs upon single or repeated exposures .
CIMS implementation was also intended to establish a database of information for all hazardous chemicals that exist and are being used in Malaysia . This in turn will enhance data collection and data sharing in Malaysia . Currently there are a total of 3,961 chemicals listed in the database . This database will be added to from time to time in parallel with the number of chemicals registered into CIMS and can be accessed by all parties without having to register with the system . Information available from the database includes : a . International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC ) name
Figure 4 : Comparison of inventory submitted from 2015 to 2019
10 VOL 86 APRIL-JUNE 2021