Long-term air pollution trend analysis in Malaysia

Abstract

Air pollution has become increasingly significant in the last few decades as a major potential risk to public health in Malaysia due to rapid economic development, coupled with seasonal trans-boundary pollution. Over the years, air pollution in Malaysia has been characterised by large seasonal variations, which are significantly attributed to trans-boundary pollution. The aim of this study is to analyse the long-term temporal dynamic (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) of CO, NO x and PM 10 at 20 monitoring stations across Malaysia. Long-term pollutant trends were analysed using the Mann-Kendall test. For potential pollutant source analysis, satellite data and Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) backward trajectories model were employed. In all monitoring sites, we observed that the annual average concentrations of PM 10 were varied, with large coefficient variations. Meanwhile, CO and NOx were found to be less varied, with smaller coefficient variations, except in certain monitoring sites. Long-term analysis trends for CO attested to insignificant decreasing trends in 11 monitoring stations and increasing trends in seven stations. Meanwhile, NO x showed no significant trends in most stations. For PM 10 , five monitoring stations showed increasing trends, whereas 15 other stations showed decreasing trends. HYSPLIT backward trajectory analyses have shown that high seasonal PM 10 levels in most parts of Malaysia are due to trans-boundary pollution. Large-scale intense biomass burning in Indonesia, particularly during the southwest monsoon, has been identified as the main potential source. Long-term air pollution in Malaysia is characterised largely by trans-boundary pollution and is highly seasonal. In urban areas of Malaysian Peninsula, combinations of trans-boundary pollution and local emission sources were notably identified as important sources. Long-term PM 10 pollution in Malaysia shows small but significant decreasing trends. Therefore, to ensure that the effect of air pollution on human health is minimised, special attention needs to be focused on short-term pollution episodes, particularly during trans-boundary pollution events and extreme weather conditions such as El Niño.

The Pro-environmental Behaviour and the Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia on Green IT Practices

“…Malaysia too experienced the same as the movement control order came into effect from March 18th and every economic activity has been shut down. It is worth noting that Malaysia has relatively cleaner and less air pollution in long term Particulate Matter (PM10) Air pollution [15]. There is an exception to this during the annual haze periods that originates transboundary across the straits during the southwest Monsoon [15].…”

“…It is worth noting that Malaysia has relatively cleaner and less air pollution in long term Particulate Matter (PM10) Air pollution [15]. There is an exception to this during the annual haze periods that originates transboundary across the straits during the southwest Monsoon [15]. Malaysia has been through the similar paths of handling the waste in the wake of controlling the COVID-19 infection rates but moved quickly into the process of recovery within decent time frame compared to other nations.…”

Development of Palm Shell Base Activated Carbon for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Emissions Absorption

“…The rising trend of transboundary air pollution issues and its associated health impact become the main concern in Malaysia [1], therefore the demand of safe and fresh quality of air is necessary to ensure public wellbeing. Although recent studies have reported that indoor air quality is affected by outdoor air there are also air pollutants originated from an indoor environment which poses carcinogenic health effects and harms its occupants [6]- [7].…”

“…Rapid economic development coupled with population booming has magnified the air quality issue and therefore the concern of its effect is considered significant. Generally, air pollutants come from both natural and anthropogenic source and broadly understood as any material which has grave effect to the environment or detrimental health effect to human and poses the ability to modify the natural characteristic of the atmosphere [1].…”

“…The common outdoor air pollutants mainly consist of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Ozone (O3) and Particulate Matter (PM) with different size (PM10 and PM2.5) [1]. In Malaysia, these pollutants have been previously characterised by large seasonal variations and generally recognised as local issues which confined to local emission sources, but then have been reported to become a regional issue as pollutants can be transported over a long distance [2].…”