Discovering Source of Residents’ Complaint on Air Quality: Preliminary Studies on Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

Abstract

Based on previous report, air quality in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) main campus can be categorized as good quality. However, high numbers of complaints especially on dust and unpleasant odour received from residents which located adjacent to industrial area in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor. Thus, this preliminary study is to discover the source of complaints with focus on Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) concentrations. PM2.5 and SO2 were measured by using Temtop airing 1000 and aeroqual series 500, respectively at five sampling stations in UTHM main campus. Measurement for PM2.5 and SO2 concentrations were collected for 24 hours and 1 hours, respectively from July to September 2019. The average concentration for PM2.5 at Tun Dr Ismail Residential College (83.63 ug/m3) and Facuulty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment (40 ug/m3) were above the allowable limit. Meanwhile, SO2 concentrations for all sampling stations were not exceeded the allowable limit. However, very high concentrations were detected at short duration that did not affect the average concentration. This high concentration can be the cause of complaints on unpleasant odour. Finding from this study can be used as preliminary data for detail monitoring and finding the source of air pollution.