Measurements and analysis of selected air pollutants in Kuala Lumpur, Kajang and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia - with emphasis on suspended particulate matter
Continuous monitoring o f air pollutants in Malaysia was, until recently, virtually non-existent. The installation of three micro-computer system for air monitoring (MCSAM) units , each in Kuala Lumpur, Kajang and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM),had made it possible to monitor selected air p...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1987
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8553/1/FSAS_1987_1_IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | Continuous monitoring o f air pollutants in Malaysia was,
until recently, virtually non-existent. The installation of three
micro-computer system for air monitoring (MCSAM) units , each in
Kuala Lumpur, Kajang and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM),had
made it possible to monitor selected air pollutants continuously.
From the data acquired from these monitoring systems, several
observations were noted. Suspended particulate matter (SPM),
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) , carbon monoxide (CO) and, to a small
extent, sulphur dioxide (S02) , showed two distinct peaks i n their
diurnal patterns. These peaks were evident in the morning hours and late evenings.Diurnal patterns of nitric oxide (NO),
nitrogen dioxide (N02) and ozone (03) were "normal", with nitric
oxide reaching its peak first,followed by nitrogen dioxide, and
finally by ozone several hours later.
While these diurnal patterns differed slightly by the
locations, they exhibited remarkable similarity by the seasons
(namely, the northeast monsoon, the southwest monsoon, and the two transitional seasons).
Al though there appeared to be no clear seasonal variations
for oxides of nitrogen and ozone, carbon monoxide, on the other
hand, remained fairly unchanged throughout the months. Suspended
particulate matter, however, showed a distinct peak sometime in
the middle of the year. The prolonged dry spell, the formation of
strong ground based inversions, and the accompanying local
meteorology, were believed to have accounted for the high
particulate levels.
From the frequency distribution analysis,
carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen were
consistently higher than the corresponding
weekday levels of observed to be weekend/holiday
levels. For suspended particulate matter , however , there were no noticeable differences b e tween weekday and weekend/holiday
levels,due,in part,to the longer residence time of the
particulates in the air.
Additional analysis on suspended particulate matter was also
carried out,using different instruments. |
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