UNIVERSITY TEKNOLOGI MARA SHAH ALAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

AIR POLLUTION ENGINEERING

ASSIGNMENT 1
OCT 2021 - FEB 2022

LECTURER: DR. DZULAIKHA BINTI KHAIRUDDIN

GROUP: EC220 7C10

NO NAME NO ID.

1. SITI AISYAH BINTI ISMAIL 2019495606

1.0 ASSUMPTION

Development Of IAQ Guidance Recommended In 2021

POLLUTANT WHO MALAYSIA JEPUN CHINA SOUTH INDIA European

1996 2016 KOREA 2009 2008
2008
1 Ozone / / / / / / /
2 Nitrogen oxides / /
(NOx)

3 Nitrogen / / / / / / /
dioxides (NO2)
4 Carbon / / / / / / /
Monoxide
5 Sulfur Dioxide / / / / / / /
6 PM 10 / / / / / / /
7 PM 2.5 / / / / / /

8 Lead (PB) / / / / /
9 Benzene / / / / /
10 Benzophrene / / /
11 Arsenic (As) / / /
12 Nickel (Ni) / / /

Table 1: Identification of pollutant recommended for WHO guideline development.

Current standard:
- Environmental Quality Standard in Japan – Air Quality
- Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard, 2009 (India)
- GB 3095-2021, phased-in 2012-2016 (China)
- Clean Air Conservation Act (South Korea)
- Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe, Directive 2008/50/EC, (summarized on the
European Commission’s Air Quality Standards page)
2.0 DISCUSSION

Air pollution is one of the causes to health risks that could affecting everybody including
young and old and it became global issue because air pollution happens around the globe.
According to the study from Global Burden of disease (GSB), there was about 5.5 million
premature deaths has been recorded in 2013 due to the air pollution. There are many mitigations
and effort has been implemented to bring down the health problem cases. When an economy
of a country growing up, it is lead to the increases the emission of chemical gases from industry
and human and became pollutant to the air.

Table 1.0 showing the Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality Standard between WHO, local and
global with 12 parameters of pollutants emissions. According to WHO, there are 5 major
outdoor air pollution which are Particulate Matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide. Ozone, Carbon
Monoxide and Sulfur Dioxide that can influence child health. These 5 pollutants are measured
in standard of air quality from almost all country such as tabulated in the Table 1.0 whereas all
country listed including WHO routinely measure with limit of standard for country.

Particulate matter is a composition mixture of particles that have various size, composition,
and origin, it can present in form of solid of liquid and sometimes both. this pollutant is usually
released from power plants and industry, motor vehicles, domestic coal burning, natural
sources such as volcanoes as well as dust storms and from the acid aerosol formation.
Particulate matter also known as total suspended particulates have 3 different diameter which
is less than 10 micrometres (PM10), less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) and less than 0.1
micrometre (PM0.1). It is important to identify the diameter of the particulate matter because it
has different effect to the human body whereas between PM2.5 and PM10 will accumulate in the
top respiratory tract and large airways. While fine particle (PM0.1) can penetrate until to the
terminal bronchioles and alveoli and cause to pneumonia, asthma, and decrease lung growth
and function. Besides, fine particles also suspended at the atmosphere longer and can move far
that large particles. (Maji A. Air Pollution and Lungs. J Assoc Chest Physician 2018; 6:1-3).

Ozone consists of two layers which are the upper atmosphere that is identified as ‘good’
layer (the stratosphere) and the lower atmosphere which is ‘bad’ layer (the troposphere). The
stratosphere naturally occurs by the combination of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and
molecular oxygen (O2). While the troposphere is occurred from the man-made product by the
emission of two major classes of air pollutions, volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx) in present of light and heat. Ozone could be harmful to health for examples
irritation and inflammation of the lungs, as well as reduced pulmonary function and irritation
of the eyes, nose, and throat. In the worst case, it also causes to chronic lung disease, mild
pulmonary fibrosis, small airway obstruction and asthma exacerbation.

The main sources of nitrogen oxide emission are from power plants, motor vehicles, and
natural sources such as eruption, lighting, and bacteria. Nitrogen dioxide is the results of the
oxidation process of nitrogen monoxide. This gas also can transform to an ozone by the
combination of oxygen with the presence of sunlight. Many health effect of this emission to
the living such as emphysema in animal, decrement in lung function, and increase airway
reactivity. According to the study conducted in US inner cities, children with asthma that live
in there likely having bad respiratory by the short-term increases of the air pollutant from the
excess morbidity. (O'Connor GT, Acute respiratory health effects of air pollution on children
with asthma in US inner cities. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008; 121(5):1133-1139).

Sulfur Dioxide is form by the combustion of sulfur-containing coal or oil, industry

activities, smelting of sulfur-containing ores and natural sources. When this gas combines with
water, it will transform to sulfuric acid (H2SO4) aerosol). Effect sulfur dioxide as upper airway
irritant are nasopharynx and proximal airways. While the acid aerosol could penetrate distal
airways and affect bronchoconstriction, slowing of bronchial mucociliary clearance and
chronic bronchitis.

Half combustion of fuels, vehicle exhaust, industry, and fires are the recognised resources
that produce carbon monoxide. It can penetrate human vein and combines with the
haemoglobin and bring down the capacity of oxygen-carrying. Children are the high-risk
population because it causes to anaemia, heart disease or chronic lung disease, and foetuses.

In addition, there are other types of parameters that are considered in standard air quality
in minor countries. Lead (Pb) has been measured in WHO, China, South Korea, Indian, and
European.it is produced by the Tetraethyl lead in fuel, lead mining, manufacturing, waste
incineration and dust. Lead in the air could give terrible effects infants and young children. It
also able to get in the body and obstruct with many enzyme systems and affect to neurotoxic
effects and blood pressure. Benzene is a carcinogen that is released into the atmosphere by
gasoline stations, motor vehicle exhaust and fuel evaporation, coal and oil combustion, and
other sources. Jepun, South Korea, India and European are the countries that including Benzene
parameter in their standard air quality. The primary industrial operations that contribute to
arsenic pollution of air, water, and soil including mining, metal smelting, and fossil fuel
combustion. A sore throat and inflamed lungs can be caused by inhaling excessive amounts of
arsenic. Nickel pollution may come from a variety of sources, including industry, the use of
liquid and solid fuels, and urban and industrial waste. Nickel exposure can result in several
health problems, such allergies, cardiovascular and renal illness, lung fibrosis, and lung and
nose cancer.
3.0 CONCLUSION

Figure 1: Premature deaths from exposure to particulate matter and ozone

Higher amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone are a result of
rising air pollution emissions. PM2.5 and ozone concentrations are already way above the WHO
Air quality limits in various parts of the world. The number of premature deaths is one of the
most serious outcomes of outdoor air pollution. According to the analysis in (Figure 1), the
number of premature deaths attributable to outdoor air pollution would rise from around 3
million people in 2010 to 6-9 million people annually in 2060, based on the latest Global
Burden of Disease projections. A considerable number of fatalities occur in highly populated
areas with high PM2.5 and ozone concentrations, particularly in China and India, as well as in
elderly populations, such as China and Eastern Europe.

Because the sources of air pollution and the economic impacts of air pollution are so
disparately spread across the country, strategies must be customised to particular local
situations. Nonetheless, initiatives such as incentivizing the use of end-of-pipe solutions,
establishing air quality standards, and emission pricing would be helpful in avoiding the worst
effects of outdoor air pollution.
REFERENCES

• Maji A. Air Pollution and Lungs. J Assoc Chest Physicians 2018;6:1-3.

• WHO Training package for the Health Sector. Children’s Health and the
Environment July 2018.
• OEDC. The Economic Consequences of Outdoor Air Pollution June 2016.