INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL &

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

EHHS 313

BACHELOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND

SAFETY

Lecture 7: Current Worldwide EHS

Issues (Part 3)
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  LESSON 7 

CURRENT WORLD-WIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY ISSUES (PART III)

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 Learning Outcome
After completing the lessons, student should be able to:
 Identify various current worldwide environmental health

and safety issues.

 Explain briefly the scenario, causes of, and impacts of these

environmental health and safety issues.

 Describe how our improving environmental health

technology can be better used to foster positive health.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
WORKPLACE HEALTH &
SAFETY ISSUES
HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS

CURRENT
WORLDWIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL EHS ISSUES
QUALITY IN COMMUNICABLE &
MALAYSIA NON-COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES

WORLD HUMAN GLOBAL

POPULATION WARMING &
CLIMATE
CHANGE

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 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

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 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

 Environmental pollution is the contamination of the

physical and biological components of the earth/
atmosphere system to such an extent that normal
environmental processes are adversely affected.
 Environmental pollution includes the contamination of air,
water and land from man-made waste.
 Environmental pollution had been a fact of life for many
centuries but it became a real problem since the start of the
industrial revolution.
 Pollution leads to depletion of the ozone layer, global
warming and climate change.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Air Pollution
• Wild Fires: Russian Federation

Water Pollution
• British Petroleum Oil Spill

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Wild Fires, August 2010

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 BP Oil Spill, April 2010

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 HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

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 HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
 A humanitarian crisis or humanitarian disaster
is an event or series of events which represents a
critical threat to the health, safety, security or
wellbeing of a community or other large group of
people, usually over a wide area.
 Armed conflicts, epidemics, famine, natural
disasters and other major emergencies may all
involve or lead to a humanitarian crisis.

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 HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

•Widespread Flooding: Pakistan

•Major Landslides: China

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 Wide-spread flooding Pakistan; July 2010

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 Major Landslides China; July 2010

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 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN
MALAYSIA

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 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN MALAYSIA 2008
 All data and information presented are based from
the Malaysia Environmental Quality Report 2008,
as produced by the Department of Environment,
Malaysia (2009).
 Among the environmental parameter that will be
discussed are the quality and pollution sources of
air, river water, marine water, island water and
groundwater in Malaysia.

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 AIR QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
 Based on the Air Pollutant Index (API), the overall
air quality in 2008 was between good to moderate
levels most of the time.
 There was a slight improvement in the air quality
as indicated by the increasing number of good air
quality days recorded in 2008 (59% of the time), as
compared to that in 2007 (56%); while remaining
40% at moderate level and only 1% at unhealthy
level.

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 AIR QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
• Six air pollutants, namely Carbon Monoxide (CO),
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide
(SO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10) were monitored
continuously at 51 locations while lead (Pb)
concentration was measured once in every six days at
two locations.
• The annual average value of these pollutants are
computed by averaging direct measurements from the
monitoring sited on yearly basis and cross-referenced
with the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Guidelines.

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 Malaysia: Ambient Air Quality Guidelines
POLLUTANT AVERAGING TIME MALAYSIA GUIDELINES
ppm (ug/m3)
Ozone 1 hour 0.10 200
8 hour 0.06 120
Carbon Monoxide 1 hour 30.0 35 mg/m3
8 hour 9.0
Nitrogen Dioxide 1 hour 0.17 320
24 hour 0.04 10
Sulphur Dioxide 1 hour 0.13 350
24 hour 0.04 105
Particulate Matter (PM10) 24 hour 150
12 month 50
Total Suspended Particulate 24 hour 260
(TSP) 12 month 90
Lead 3 month 1.5
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 ANNUAL AVERAGE CONCENTRATION OF AIR
POLLUTANTS IN MALAYSIA (2005-2008)
POLLUTANT 2005 2006 2007 2008 Guideline
s
Ozone (ppm) 0.0421 0.0408 0.039 0.0392 0.1

Carbon 0.7918 0.7649 0.6973 0.7309 9

Monoxide
(ppm)
Nitrogen 0.0095 0.0091 0.0089 0.0094 0.17
Dioxide (ppm)
Sulphur 0.0024 0.0021 0.0019 0.0018 0.04
Dioxide (ppm)
Particulate 49 49 43 42 50
Matter (ug/m3)

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 AIR POLLUTION SOURCES
• Industries including power stations, motor vehicles and open
burning activities remain the major sources of air pollution in
Malaysia.
• In 2008, a total of 22 971 industrial sources were identified to be
subjected to Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 1978.
• As for the past years, motor vehicles remain the major contributor of
air pollution especially in urban areas.
• It is estimated that in 2008, the combined air pollutant emission load
was 1 451 746 metric tonnes carbon monoxide, 409 972 metric tonnes
of nitrogen oxides, 161 913 metric tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 31
672 metric tonnes of particulate matter.

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 • ASSIGNMENT:

Air Quality In Malaysia???

- current air quality

- annual average concentration of air
pollutants in Malaysia for 2010 and
present

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 WATER QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
 The Water Quality Index (WQI) was used as a basis for
assessment of a watercourse in relation to pollution
load categorization and designation of classes of
beneficial uses as stipulated in the National Water
Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQS).
 The WQI was derived using Dissolved Oxygen (DO),
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical
Oxygen Demand (COD), Suspended Solids (SS),
Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N) and pH.

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 WATER POLLUTION SOURCES
• The sources of water pollution can be categorised as
point and non-point sources.
• The Department of Environment (DOE) maintains
mainly records of point sources.
• In 2008, 17 633 water pollution point sources were
recorded.
• These comprise of sewage treatment plants (9
524/54.01% inclusive of 668 Network Pump Stations),
manufacturing industries (6 830/38.73%), animal
farms (788/4.48%) and agro-based industries
(491/2.78%).

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 • ASSIGNMENT:

Give examples of point and non-point

sources of water pollution

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 RIVER QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
• In 2008, the number of river basins monitored remained at
143 and the number of monitoring stations was 1063.
• Out of these monitoring stations, 612 (58%) were found to
be clean, 412 (38%) slightly polluted and 39 (4%) polluted.
• There was a significant reduction in the number of clean
river basins in 2008 compared to 2007; as there were 76
clean river basins in 2008, compared to 91 in 2007.
• The number of polluted river basins remained at 7 –
Penang, Melaka and Johor??

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 • ASSIGNMENT:

What are the names of 7 polluted

river basin in Malaysia?

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 MARINE QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
• The marine water quality monitoring programme started in
1978 included in-situ measurements and laboratory analysis
for parameters as listed below:
In-situ Unit Parameter (Laboratory Unit
Measurement Analysis)
Temperature °C Escherichia coli MPN/100ml
pH - Oil & Grease (O&G) mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen % Sat Total Suspended Solids (TSS) mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen mg/l Arsenic mg/l
Conductivity μS/cm Cadmium mg/l
Salinity ppt Total Chromium mg/l
Turbidity NTU Copper mg/l
Tarball g/100m Lead mg/l
Mercury mg/l

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 MALAYSIA: THE INTERIM MARINE WATER
QUALITY STANDARDS (IMWQS)
PARAMETER (LABORATORY ANALYSIS) UNIT STANDARDS
Escherichia coli MPN/100ml 100
Oil & Grease mg/l 0
Total Suspended Solids mg/l 50
Arsenic mg/l 0.1
Cadmium mg/l 0.1
Total Chromium mg/l 0.5
Copper mg/l 0.1
Lead mg/l 0.1
Mercury mg/l 0.001

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 MARINE QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
 In 2008, a total of 1070 samples from 229 monitoring
stations were collected for analysis.
 The most number of samples that exceeded the
IMWQS were total suspended solids (63.5%), followed
by E. coli (55.1%) and oil and grease (47.9%).
 There was an increase of in total suspended solids, oil
and grease, E. coli, mercury, arsenic and total
chromium levels and decrease in copper, cadmium and
lead compared to the previous year.

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 MARINE WATER QUALITY STATUS IN MALAYSIA,
2006 - 2008

TSS O&G E. coli Cu Pb Hg Cd As Cr

2006 74.7 35.4 54.9 6.4 20.3 18.2 1.9 0.9 1.9

2007 56.9 43.6 44.1 6.7 24.2 8.5 4.5 0.0 0.6

2008 63.5 47.9 55.1 6.7 15.3 13.0 2.8 1.1 0.7

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 ISLAND MARINE QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
 The waters around 71 islands were monitored in 2008
that were categorised as development islands (3
islands), resort islands (25 islands), marine park
islands (38 islands) and protected islands (5 islands).
 A total of 364 samples were collected and analysed.
 The main pollutants analysed were total suspended
solids, E. coli and oil and grease.

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 ISLAND MARINE WATER QUALITY STATUS IN
MALAYSIA, 2006 - 2008

Developme Marine Park Resort Protecte

nt d
Escherichia coli 48.5 4.7 24.7 6.3

Total Suspended 22.2 0.0 4.8 0.0

Solids
Oil & Grease 12.5 4.3 4.8 5.0

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 TARBALL MONITORING
 Tarball residues on beaches are usually caused by
oily discharges from fishing boats as well as
passing vessels.
 In 2008, it was found that all 131 monitoring
stations were free from tarball pollution.

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 10 BEST COASTAL AND ESTUARY MONITORING
SITES IN MALAYSIA, 2008
STATE SITES CATEGORY
PAHANG Pantai Cherating Coastal
Pantai Sepat Coastal
Pantai Teluk Cempedak Coastal
SABAH Borneo Golf Seawater Coastal
Pantai Kg. Lamak, Lahad Datu Coastal
Pantai Manis, Papar Coastal
Pantai Melinsung, Papar Coastal
Pantai Sabandar, Tuaran Coastal
Pantai Teluk Brunei 4 Coastal
Pantai Ulu Tungku Coastal

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 10 BEST ISLAND MONITORING SITES IN
MALAYSIA, 2008
STATE SITES CATEGORY
JOHOR Sibu Besar Marine Park
Sibu Tengah Resort
KEDAH Lembu, Langkawi Marine Park
Payar, Langkawi Marine Park
PAHANG Seri Buat Marine Park
SABAH Gaya Resort
Sipadan Resort
Mabul Resort
TERENGGANU Pinang Marine Park
Redang Marine Park

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 GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
• Groundwater quality monitoring was carried out at 81
monitoring wells in Peninsular Malaysia, 16 wells in
Sarawak and 15 wells in Sabah, as part of the National
Monitoring Programme that was initiated in 1997.
• The site selected were according to the land use such
as agricultural, urban/suburban, rural and industrial
and special interest sites such as solid waste landfills,
golf courses, animal burial areas, municipal water
supply and ex-mining (gold mine).

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 DISTRIBUTION OF GROUNDWATER
MONITORING WELLS 2008
CATEGORY NUMBER OF WELLS
Agricultural Areas 12
Urban / Suburban Areas 11
Industrial Sites 18
Solid Waste Landfills 26
Golf Courses 7
Rural Areas 5
Ex-Mining Areas (Gold Mine) 3
Municipal Water Supply 9
Animal Burial Areas 14
Aquaculture Farms 6
Resorts 1
TOTAL 112
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 GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
• In 2008, 335 water samples were taken from these
monitoring wells and analysed for volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), pesticides, heavy metals, anions,
bacteria (coliform), phenolic compounds, radioactivity
(Gross Alpha and Beta), total hardness, total dissolved
solids (TDS), pH, temperature, conductivity and dissolved
oxygen (DO).

• The results were then compared with the National

Guidelines for Raw Drinking Water Quality, established by
the Ministry of Health to determine the status of its quality.

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 NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR RAW DRINKING WATER
QUALITY
PARAMETER SYMBOL BENCHMARK PARAMETER SYMBOL BENCHMARK
Sulphate SO4 250 mg/l Phenolics - 0.002 mg/l
Hardness CaCO3 500 mg/l TDS - 1000 mg/l
Nitrate NO3 10 mg/l Iron Fe 0.3 mg/l

Manganese Mn 0.1 mg/l Copper Cu 1.0 mg/l

Chromium Cr 0.05 mg/l Lead Pb 0.01 mg/l

Zinc ZN 3 mg/l Cadmium Cd 0.003 mg/l

Arsenic As 0.01 mg/l Mercury Hg 0.001 mg/l

Coliform - Must not be
Selenium Se 0.01 mg/l
detected in any
Chloride Cl 250 mg/l 100 ml sample
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 GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN MALAYSIA
 From the monitoring result, it was found that arsenic, iron,
manganese, total coliform and phenol recorded the most
number of samples exceeding the guideline values.

 The least number of samples exceeding the guideline

values were mercury, cadmium, chromium, nitrate and
sulphate.

 There was no exceed of copper and zinc recorded in all

samples monitored.

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PERCENTAGE OF NON-COMPLIANCE OF SELECTED
CONTAMINANTS BY LAND USE 2008
CaCO3 TDS NO3 SO
As Hg Cd Cr Cu Fe Pb Mn Zn Se Cl TC Ph
4 e
Ind 50 3 2 0 0 90 5 66 0 31 22 31 3 5 19 100 91
8
Lf 59 0 10 6 0 94 17 69 0 6 1 9 3 3 0 100 88
Ag 23 0 5 0 0 72 10 38 0 15 10 15 21 0 0 100 90
MW 100 100
S
61 0 65 0 0 65 61 0 29 9 26 25 0 0 73
Ur 3 0 18 0 0 71 21 38 0 3 0 6 6 6 0 100 86
GC 43 0 0 0 0 76 0 48 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 100 69
RA 53 0 0 0 0 65 12 59 0 18 18 18 18 6 0 100 77
E- 67 0 0 50 0 83 0 67 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0
Ind-Industrial;
M Lf-landfills; Ag-Agriculture; MWS-Municipal Water Supply, Ur-Urban/Suburban; GC-Golf Course; RA-Rural Areas; E-M-
Ex-Mining
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 REFERENCES
1. Morgan, M.T. (Ed). (2003). Environmental Health. (3rd
Ed). Thomson Wadsworth. Australia.
2. Moeller, D.W. (2005). Environmental Health (3rd Ed.).
Harvard University. Massachusetts.
3. Friis, R.H., 2007. Essentials of Environmental Health.
Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
4. Levy, B.S., Wegman, D.H., Barron, S.L. & Sokas, R.K.
(ed.). (2006). Occupational and Environmental Health –
Recognizing & Preventing Disease & Injury (5th Ed.).
Lippincott William & Wilkins. Philadelphia.

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 THANK YOU

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