Evaluation of air quality in Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia from a mobile monitoring campaign using air pollution micro-sensors. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Chia Chun; Tran, Manh-Vu; Choo, Cheng Wai; Tan, Chee Pin; Chiew, Yeong Shiong
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 265(2020)Part A
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Air pollution -- Mobile monitoring campaign -- Sunway city -- CO2 -- NO2; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Due to the increase of the human population and the rapid industrial growth in the past few decades, air quality monitoring is essential to assess the pollutant levels of an area. However, monitoring air quality in a high-density area like Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia is challenging due to the limitation of the local monitoring network. To establish a comprehensive data for air pollution in Sunway City, a mobile monitoring campaign was employed around the city area with a duration of approximately 6 months, from September 2018 to March 2019. Measurements of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) were performed by using mobile air pollution sensors facilitated with a GPS device. In order to acquire a more in-depth understanding on traffic-related air pollution, the measurement period was divided into two different time blocks, which were morning hours (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) and afternoon hours (3 p.m.–7 p.m.). The data set was analysed by splitting Sunway City into different zones and routes to differentiate the conditions of each region. Meteorological variables such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were studied in line with the pollutant concentrations. The air quality in Sunway City was then compared with various air quality standards such as Malaysian Air Quality Standards and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to understand the risk of exposure to air pollution by the residence in Sunway City. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: High levels of the pollutants were contributed by vehicles and industrial activities. CO2 level was significantly high in the morning, NO2 level was high in the afternoon. CO2 concentration was inversely proportional to the temperature and wind speed. NO2 concentration increased with the increase of the ambient temperature. Abstract : Capsule: A mobile monitoring campaign was employed around Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia to measure air pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) in the area.