UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

CAWANGAN PULAU PINANG

ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY
CEW545
OCT 2020 – FEB 2021

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : LAB 2 – AIR PARTICLES MEASUREMENT

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 19 OCTOBER 2021

GROUP : PEC 221 7A2

GROUP MEMBERS :-

1. AIZA MASTURA ZOLKARNAIN (2019461858)

2. LUQMAN NUR HAKIM HUSAINI (2019695922)

3. MUHAMAD ABHAR RIDHWAN ABDUL KADIR (2019672476)

4. MUHAMMAD ZAIM ZULKIPLE (2019848074)

5. NIK MOHAMAD HARIZ NIK MOHD KAMIL (2019689304)

LECTURER : NURAKMAL HAMZAH

LEVEL OF OPENESS
1: 2 3
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TABLE OF CONTENT

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1.0 Introduction 3

2.0 Objective 3

3.0 Theoretical Background 3-4

4.0 Problem Statement 4

5.0 Apparatus 5

6.0 Procedures 5

7.0 Data Acquisition & Result Analysis 6-7

8.0 Discussion 8-9

9.0 Conclusion 10

10.0 References 10

11.0 Appendices 11

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Particulates in the air vary from location to location within the area. Air particles are tiny
subdivisions of solid matter suspended in a gas or liquid. In contrast, aerosol refers to particles
and/or liquid droplets and the gas together. Sources of particulate matter can be manmade or
natural. Large amount of air particles in the environment is the main cause of air pollution which
can bring various implications such as health problem and reduce visibility.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The objective of the experiment are:-

1) To conduct reflection on the given paper in order to understand the necessary setting in
the measurement of particulate matter in ensuring reliability of the data.
2) To present (offline or online) the measurement of particulate matter.
3) To briefly discuss the finding based on the given case study (reflection paper).

3.0 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Higher air particles in the air could lead to deterioration on health among human and animal and
also limit the vision. Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so
small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Particles less than 10
micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs,
and some may even get into your bloodstream.

Fine particles (<PM2.5) are the main cause of reduced visibility (haze) in parts of the United
States, including many of our treasured national parks and wilderness areas.

Based on the Air Pollutant Index (API) governed by the Department of Environment (DOE)
Malaysia, air quality in terms of human health impacts and implications are categorized as
follows;

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Figure 3.1 Air Pollutant Index (API)

4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Urbanization and industrialization are among a major contributors of air pollutants. The air
pollutants consist of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, metals,
ozone and other type of air pollutants. The air pollutants can cause long term effect to human
such as respiratory diseases, heart diseases and lung function. The concentration of air pollutant
can be varies depending on the locations, altitude, weather, moisture content and other
meteorological conditions. Therefore, in this activity the air pollutants at wetland of different
environmental conditions will be evaluated.

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5.0 APPARATUS

Powerbank

Dust Detector

Air compactor

Dust Detector

6.0 PROCEDURES

1) The location for the air particles monitoring was selected which is indoor (environmental
laboratory 1).
2) The air particle monitor was hold at chest level and opposite to the wind direction to
ensure the collected sample can represent respiratory particle.
3) The dust detector brought to the location and was set up by switching on the device and
reset to collect new data. The start button is pressed.
4) The reading at air particle monitor is taken in an interval 1 minute, minimum to 15
minutes for precise data of selected location.
5) Data and result consist of concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM) such as PM10,
PM2.5, PM1 and Total Particle are taken.

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7.0 DATA ACQUISITION & RESULT ANALYSIS

𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
𝑷𝑴𝟏𝟎 ( ) 𝑷𝑴𝟐.𝟓 ( )
TIME 𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑
Highest Lowest Highest Lowest
Dry Period 275 175 140 70
Normal Water
145 95 30 20
Period
Wet Period 170 90 32 18

Figure 7.1 Data Acquisition of the Experiment

SAMPLE CALCULATION

𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡+𝐿𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 2

Average 𝑷𝑴𝟏𝟎 Average 𝑷𝑴𝟐.𝟓

Dry Period Dry Period

275 + 175 140 + 70
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
2 2

𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟐𝟐𝟓 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓
𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑

Normal Water Period Normal Water Period

145 + 95 30 + 20
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
2 2
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟐𝟓
𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑

Wet Period Wet Period

170 + 90 32 + 18
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
2 2
𝝁𝒈
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝝁𝒈
𝒎𝟑 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝟐𝟓
𝒎𝟑
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PM10
Concentration (µg/m3)

300

200
Highest
100
Lowest
0
Dry Period Normal Water Period Wet Period

Lowest Highest

Figure 7.2 Tabulation of Graph for PM10

PM2.5
Concentration (µg/m3)

150

100

Highest
50
Lowest
0
Dry Period Normal Water Period Wet Period

Lowest Highest

Figure 7.3 Tabulation of Graph for PM2.5

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8.0 DICUSSION OF RESULTS

Particulate matter (also known as particle pollution) is a phrase used to describe a mixture of
solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Dust, grime, soot, and smoke are examples of
biq or black partciles that can be seen with the naked eye. Others are so minuscule that only an
electron microscope can detect them. Particle pollution includes:-

PM10 = inhalable particles, with diamters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller

PM2.5 = fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

Figure 8.1 Size comparisons for PM particles

When conducting this experiment, we should conduct the experiment in three condition of time
which are dry period (winter), normal water period (spring and autumn) and wet period
(summer). The location of the data gathererd was at Wetland, Beijing. The annual concentration
of PM10 and PM2.5 in the wetland followed te order of dry period > normal water period > dry
period with the concentration in the dry period significantly higher than that in the normal water
and wet periods. According to the journal (Qiu, liu, Zhu, Mo & Zhan, 2015), the result showed
the mean mass concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were the highest at 6.00 am – 9.00 am and the
lowest at 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm

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According to the result gathered, we calculate the average of the mean mass concentrations of
PM10 and PM2.5 by the formula total of highest and lowest PM divide by the number of PM. As
𝝁𝒈
we can see in the tabulation of data, the result for PM10 when dry period are 275 𝒎𝟑 at the highest
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
and 175 𝒎𝟑 at the lowest while PM2.5 when dry period are 140 at the highest and 70 𝒎𝟑 at the
𝒎𝟑
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
lowest. The result for PM10 when normal water period are 145 𝒎𝟑 at the highest and 95 𝒎𝟑 at the
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
lowest while PM2.5 when normal water period are 30 at the highest and 20 at the lowest.
𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
The result for PM10 when wet period are 170 at the highest and 90 at the lowest while
𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑
𝝁𝒈 𝝁𝒈
PM2.5 when wet periods are 32 at the highest and 18 𝒎𝟑 at the lowest.
𝒎𝟑

Based on the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS) on the day of our experiment (28th
October 2021, 12.00 pm, Seberang Perai) API at that time is at 42

Figure 8.1 Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS)

We can evaluate that during dry period, normal water period and wet period for PM10 at the wetland
the pollutant are greater than in Malaysia while for PM25 only at dry period the pollutant recorded
greater than in Malaysia

This experiment can be improve by conducting the experiment for a few times to get the average
data that will affect the accuracy of data.

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9.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, the particulate concentrations at indoor of Laman Perdana Hall UiTM Pulau
Pinang was 11.5μg/m3 as recorded in the data above. Based on the Air Pollutant Index (API)
governed by the Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia, the quality of the air can be
classified as good to human health impacts. The objective of this experiment to determine the
particulate concentrations at indoor have been achieved.

10.0 REFERENCES

Air Particles Measurement, Laboratory manual of Fakulti Kejuruteraan Awam Universiti

Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pulau Pinang.

Afroz, R., Hassan, M. N., & Ibrahim, N. A. 2003. Review Of Air Pollution And Health Impacts
In Malaysia. Environmental Research. 92(2): 71-77. Retrieved from:
https://www.scirp.org/(S(czeh2tfqyw2orz553k1w0r45))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?Refere
nceID=879598

Dahari, N. A., Wahid, H., Md. Yunus, M. A., Abdul Rahim, H., & Sulaiman, M. D. (2016). A
REVIEW ON AIR POLLUTANTS MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES AND ITS FUTURE
ADVANCEMENT. Journal Teknologi, 78(7-4). Retrieved from:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.9425.

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11.0 APPENDICES

Figure 10.1 Environmental Dust Detector Figure 10.2 Introducing the Apparatus of the
Experiment

Figure 10.3 Handling Environmental Dust

Detector

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