Air quality and air pollutant index assessment in a peat swamp area prone to self-ignition fires in Kuala Pahang /
Teoh Chee Shan
- xiii, 99pages : illustrations (some color) ; 30 cm. + 1 CD-ROM.
Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology
Thesis (Master of Science) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah - 2026
Includes bibliographical references
Air pollution in peat swamp ecosystems has become an increasing environmental concern, particularly in areas prone to peatland self-ignition during prolonged dry periods. Such fire events release significant amounts of air pollutants that may pose risks to human health and ecological sustainability. This study aims to assess the characteristics and trends of major air pollutants and the Air Pollutant Index (API) in a peat swamp area located in Kuala Pahang, Malaysia, using real-time air quality monitoring. Continuous air quality data were collected using an Aeroqual AQM 65 monitoring system integrated with the Aeroqual Cloud platform. The monitored parameters included carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 μm (PM10), and less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). The recorded pollutant concentrations were converted into API sub-index values based on the Department of Environment Malaysia guidelines, and the highest daily sub-index was used to represent the daily API. The results indicate that approximately 90.65% of the recorded API values were classified as good (API < 50), 7.58% as moderate (API 51–100), and 1.77% as unhealthy (API > 100). Among the monitored pollutants, carbon monoxide exhibited relatively higher concentrations compared to other parameters, which may be associated with peatland characteristics as a major carbon reservoir and its susceptibility to smouldering combustion during dry conditions. Temporal analysis further revealed noticeable fluctuations in API values corresponding to seasonal variations. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of real-time air quality monitoring for evaluating air pollution conditions in peat swamp areas. The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and sustainable management of peat swamp ecosystems to mitigate air pollution risks, protect public health, and preserve their ecological functions as carbon sinks, water regulators, and biodiversity habitats.
THE0010794 (Local)
Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology--Dissertations