Sains Malaysiana 46(2)(2017): 197–207

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4602-03

 

Distribution and Temporal Behaviour of O3 and NO2 Near Selected Schools in Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang and Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia

(Sifat Taburan dan Masa O3 dan NO2 Berdekatan Sekolah-sekolah Terpilih di Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang dan Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia)

 

NAZATUL SYADIA ZAINORDIN*, NOR AZAM RAMLI & MAHER ELBAYOUMI

 

Environmental Assessment and Clean Air Research, School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 11 Januari 2016/Diterima: 9 Mei 2016

 

ABSTRACT

Air quality has deteriorated in urban areas as a result of increased anthropogenic activities. Quantitative information on the influence of meteorological conditions on several pollutants in a tropical climate is still lacking. Real-time ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were measured nearby selected schools in Malaysia to examine the impact of meteorological factors on monitoring pollutants. The results showed the overall 10 min average concentrations of the main parameters during school holiday were 24 ppb (O3) and 33 ppb (NO2) while during school day the overall 10 min average concentrations were 26 ppb (O3) and 51 ppb (NO2). Although there are no minimum requirements for short-term exposure by MAAQG, if compared to 1 h average requirements, all concentrations were still below the suggested values. Regarding spatial distribution, a different trend in pollutant concentration among the schools was observed because of the influence of temperature (AT) and wind speed (WS). The results were verified by Pearson correlation, where significant correlations (p<0.01) were determined between air pollutants and meteorological factors, which were temperature, wind speed and relative humidity. Meanwhile, the distribution of O3 was moderately correlated with NO2. However, the results of multivariate analysis indicate that temperature and relative humidity had the most significant influence on the formation of O3. In summary, the results of this study showed that all precursors and meteorological parameters contribute to the production of O3. Hence, reducing O3 precursors, which are emitted by vehicles, is essential to lessening the exposure to O3.

 

Keywords: Downwind transport; meteorological parameters; nitrogen oxide; ozone; wet condition

 

ABSTRAK

Kualiti udara telah merosot di kawasan bandar akibat daripada peningkatan aktiviti antropogen. Maklumat kuantitatif terhadap pengaruh keadaan meteorologi kepada beberapa pencemar dalam iklim tropika masih kurang. Kadar ozon (O3) dan nitrogen dioksida (NO2) pada masa sebenar telah diukur berdekatan beberapa sekolah yang telah dipilih di Malaysia untuk menilai kesan factor meteorologi terhadap pencemar yang dipantau. Keputusan menunjukkan kepekatan purata 10 min keseluruhan bagi parameter utama semasa cuti sekolah adalah 24 ppb (O3) dan 33 ppb (NO2) sementara semasa hari sekolah adalah 26 ppb (O3) dan 51 ppb (NO2). Walaupun tiada syarat minimum untuk pendedahan jangka pendek, jika dibandingkan dengan syarat purata 1 jam, kesemua kepekatan ini masih di bawah nilai yang disarankan oleh Garis Panduan Kualiti Udara Malaysia (MAAQG). Mengenai taburan reruang, perbezaan trend bagi kepekatan pencemar antara sekolah-sekolah diperhatikan, disebabkan pengaruh suhu dan kelajuan angin. Keputusan telah dibuktikan melalui korelasi Pearson, dengan korelasi ketaranya (p<0.01) ditentukan antara pencemar udara dan faktor meteorologi, iaitu suhu, kelajuan angin dan kelembapan relatif. Sementara itu, taburan kepekatan O3 adalah berkolerasi sederhana dengan kepekatan NO2. Namun begitu, keputusan daripada analisis multivariat menunjukkan suhu dan kelembapan relatif mempunyai pengaruh yang paling ketara dalam pembentukan O3. Secara ringkas, keputusan daripada kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa semua prapenanda O3 dan parameter meteorologi menyumbang kepada penghasilan O3. Justeru itu, pengurangan prapenanda O3 yang dihasilkan oleh kenderaan adalah sangat penting dalam mengurangkan pendedahan terhadap pencemaran O3.

 

Kata kunci: Keadaan lembap; nitrogen dioksida; ozon; parameter meteorologi; pembawaan angina

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: nazatulsyadia@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

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