4.

1 Result

Site ID: Kolej Kediaman 4 (KK4), University Malaysia Pahang

Condition
Start
End
Atm Pressure (mmHg)
760
760
Amb Temperature (K)
303.15
303.15
Table 4.1: Pressure and Temperature for Starting and Ending of Experiment

Filter
No

Start
Roto Flow

End
Elap Time

Roto Flow

Elap Time

(L/min)
(L/min)
PM2.5
4.5
760.4
4.5
763.5
PM10
4.5
820.2
4.5
822.9
TSP
4.5
1100.9
4.5
1123.4
Table 4.2: Value of Flow Rate and Elapsed Time for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP

Filter
No
PM2.5
PM10
TSP

Flow meter set point:

Filter Paper Weight

Initial (g)
Final (g)

MPM (g)

(Final-Initial)
0.1443
0.1444
100
0.1446
0.1448
200
0.1450
0.1454
400
Table 4.3: MPM value for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP

P act T std
P std T act

b vol
5.0
I SP=

( 760 mmHg ) (298 .15 K )

( 760 mmHg ) (30 3.15 K )

0.1137
5.0

4.7143 L/min

Air flow rate at ambient conditions:

Qact =( mvol Qind +b vol )

P std T act
Pact T std

( 1.0277 4.5 L/ min+0.1137 )

( 760 mmHg ) (3 03.15 K )

(760 mmHg ) (298 .15 K )

4.7779 L/min

Qact for initial and final of the experiment is the same because the condition of ambient
pressure and ambient temperature is unchanged as well as the value of flow rate on roto meter
(Qind). Therefore, the average value of Qact is 4.7779 L/min
Volume at actual ambient conditions:

V act =

60 min /hr Q act t hr

1000 L/m 3

60 min /hr 4.7 779 L/min 3 hr

1000 L/ m3

0.86 m

Where:
ISP

: Flow meter set point (L/min)

Pstd

: Standard atmospheric pressure (760mmHg)

Tstd

: Standard temperature (298K)

Pact : Actual ambient pressure (760mmHg)

Tact

: Actual ambient temperature (304.67K) (Reference: 5)

bvol : 0.1137
mvol : 1.0277
Qact : Actual flow rate (L/min)
Qind : Rota meter indicated flow rate (L/min)
Vact : Air volume at actual ambient conditions (m3)
thr

: Sampling period (hr)

PMact : Particulate matter concentration (g/m3)

MPM : Mass of particulate matter collected on filter (g)

Therefore,
Particulate matter concentration:
M PM
V act

PM act =

M PM
3

0.86 m

Pollutants
MPM (g)
PMact (g/m3)
Particluate Matter (PM2.5)
100
110.06
Particulate Matter (PM10)
200
220.01
Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
400
450.32
Table 4.4: Value of PMact for PM2.5, PM10 and TDS for 3hours

4.2 Discussion
1. Explain and compare your results with Malaysia, Canada and USA Ambient Air Quality
Guidelines (see Appendix).
Pollutant
Averaging Time
Guidelines, g/m3
Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Guidelines
Particulate Matter (PM10)
24h
150
Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
24h
260
Canada
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
24h
30
United States of America
Particulate Matter (PM10)
24h
150
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
24h
35

Table 4.5: PM Values in Malaysia, Canada and United State for 24 hours
According to the table 4.5 which is indicates the value of concentration of particulate
matter (PM) in the state of Malaysia, Canada and America for 24 hours. But, in this experiment,
the PM value is considered for three hours only. Therefore, in order to compare the experimental
result with PM value in Malaysia, Canada and United State, by using simple proportion
calculation, the PM value from table 4.4 is calculated and the final value is as indicates in table
below:

Pollutants
PMact (g/m3)@3hours
PMact (g/m3)@24hours
Particluate Matter (PM2.5)
110.06
832.63
Particulate Matter (PM10)
220.01
1705.26
Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
450.32
3500.56
Table 4.6: Value of PMact for PM2.5, PM10 and TDS for 24 hours

The result show that, all three value PM2.5, PM10, and TSP that get from this experiment is
higher that the reference data which from Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Guidelines, Canada and
United State. From the study the data should be lower than the data from Canada and United
State because Canada and United State is higher industrial activity and highly developed
countries. This differences value may cause by several factors such as the metropolitan setting
and development of the country as well as the geographical position of the country (Samoli et al,
2011). Besides that, it also depending on the factors condition of weather while doing air
sampling as well as the increasing on amount of hospitality in the country (Beamish et al, 2011).

2. Briefly explain the sources of air pollutants.

The main sources or air pollution can be divided into industries, agriculture and traffic, as
well as energy generation. When combustion process and other production process happen it will
release some substance into the air. This substance not directly damaging to air quality but will
form harmful air pollutants by reaction with other substance present in the air.

Agriculture also supports the air pollution by produce the nitrous oxide N 2O during the
denitrification process. The nitrogen in soil can easily be denitrified by bacteria and because of
the use fertilizer in agricultural sector it wills emission of ammonia, nitrogen oxide and methane.
All of this component can cause the greenhouse gas. The agricultural sector is known for its
extensive use of pesticides, this is not good to the air quality because the use of pesticides will
produce many toxic chemical.
The industries are responsible for emission of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen oxides and small dust particle. During energy generation chemicals such as
methane are released into the air as a result of oil and natural gas extraction. The combustion of
coal and natural gas for electricity production causes the release of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides and carbon dioxide into the air. Traffic is held responsible for one-third of the greenhouse
gas emissions. Emissions caused by traffic are mainly those of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, VOC and small dust particles.

3. Explain the common equipments used in industry for reducing air pollutants.
There are a lot of equipments used in the industry for reducing air pollutants like wet
scrubbers, electrostatic precipitator, and dust cyclones. In wet scrubbers, the polluted gas stream
is forced through scrubbing liquid to remove the pollutant. The Electrostatic Air Cleaners is also
a air pollution control system is a particulate collecting device which uses the force created by an
induced electrostatic charge to remove particulate matter from any flowing gas, like air. These
filtration devices are highly efficient and are very effective in removing fine particles like smoke
and dust from the air stream. ESPs commonly used for controlling particulate emissions in
various industries like oil refineries, pulp mills, and oil and coal fired utilities that generate
electricity which produce smoke. As for dust cyclones, particulate matter from a gas or air stream
was removed using vortex separation. Mixtures of fluids and solids are separated by using
gravity and rotational effects. There is large-scale use of cyclones in oil refineries as well as the
cement industry.
4. Briefly explain the impacts of air pollution on the human health.

The air pollution may cause an adverse effect to human health two ways whether in shortterm effects which known also as acute effect and long-term effect which called as chronic
effects. There are several diseases that can be considered as a acute effects on human such as
irritation to eyes, nose and throat. Besides that, there also has a disease like upper respiratory
infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. In addition to that, there are the other symptoms
like nausea, headaches, as well as allergic reactions on human body. Meanwhile, the diseases like
chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, lung cancer, and even damage to the brain, nerves,
liver and kidneys can be considered as a chronic effect of the air pollution. The exposure of air
pollutant such particulate matter (PM) has cause a disease like lung and cardiovascular. Besides
that, it also may cause the fatality among the patients.

References
1. Beamish, L. A., Osornio-Vargas, A. R., & Wine, E. (2011). Air pollution: An environmental
factor contributing to intestinal disease. Journal of Crohns and Colitis, 5, 279 286
2. Samoli, E., Nastos, P. T., Paliatsos, A. G., Katsouyanni, K., & Priftis, K. N. (2011). Acute
effects of air pollution on pediatric asthma exacerbation: Evidence of association and effect
modification. Environmental Research, 111 (3), 418 424