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Spatio-temporal variation of Particulate Matter (PM10) during High Particulate Event (HPE) in Malaysia

2022-01-01 , Ridzuan N.A.M. , Norazian Mohamed Noor , Rahim N.A.A.A. , Jafri I.A.M. , Gyeorgy D.

Particulate matter (PM10) is the key indicator of air quality index in Malaysia and Southeast Asia's main haze-related pollutant. PM10 emanation is believed to cause the strongest harm to public health and the environment. Therefore, it is very important to study the temporal and spatial characteristics of PM10 and the weather parameters, hence the relationship between them can be identified. A database with hourly PM10 concentration and weather parameters were obtained from Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia from the period of 2012–2016 at two study areas that are located in Klang Valley, namely, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam. The temporal analysis for PM10 concentration was observed by using descriptive statistics, boxplot and time series plot whereas the spatial analysis was conducted using windrose diagram. The finding shows that the highest average concentration of PM10 at Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam in 2015 exceeded the Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Standard, which were 60.13 Âµg/m3 and 66.22 Âµg/m3 respectively. It was due to high particulate event (HPE) that had affected Malaysia during the period of Southwest Monsoon, where the massive land and forest fires came from Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to the wind rose rose diagram, the wind mostly blew from northeast in January until February as Malaysia experienced northeast monsoon where rainfall happened. Shah Alam received stronger wind compared to the Petaling Jaya because the topography of city.

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Variability of PM10 level with gaseous pollutants and meteorological parameters during episodic haze event in Malaysia: domestic or solely transboundary factor?

2023 , Nur Alis Addiena A Rahim , Norazian Mohamed Noor , Izzati Amani Mohd Jafri , Ahmad Zia Ul-Saufie , Norazrin Ramli , Ain Nihla Kamarudzaman , Nor Amirah Abu Seman @ Haji Ahmad , Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol , Sandu Andrei Victor , Gyorgy Deak

Haze has become a seasonal phenomenon affecting Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, and has occurred almost every year within the last few decades. Air pollutants, specifically particulate matter, have drawn a lot of attention due to their adverse impact on human health. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of the PM10 concentration at Kelang, Melaka, Pasir Gudang, and Petaling Jaya during historic haze events were analysed. An hourly dataset consisting of PM10, gaseous pollutants and weather parameters were obtained from Department of Environment Malaysia. The mean PM10 concentrations exceeded the stipulated Recommended Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Guideline for the yearly average of 150 μg/m3 except for Pasir Gudang in 1997 and 2005, and Petaling Jaya in 2013. The PM10 concentrations exhibit greater variability in the southwest monsoon and inter-monsoon periods at the studied year. The air masses are found to be originating from the region of Sumatra during the haze episodes. Strong to moderate correlation of PM10 concentrations was found between CO during the years that recorded episodic haze, meanwhile, the relationship of PM10 level with SO2 was found to be significant in 2013 with significant negatively correlated relative humidity. Weak correlation of PM10-NOx was measured in all study areas probably due to less contribution of domestic anthropogenic sources towards haze events in Malaysia.