Air quality in Nilai

What is the current level of air pollution in Nilai?

Nilai is a city located between in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, close to the border with Selangor. According to a census conducted in 2010, Nilai had an estimated population of approximately 38,600 people, although this figure has most probably increased over the last eleven years.

According to figures released for 2020 by IQAir .com, Nilai was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 89. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, which are PM2.5 and PM10. It can then be used as the metric when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. For Nilai, only PM2.5 was noted which was 30.2 µg/m³. This level of PM2.5 is just in excess of three times the recommended safe level of 10 µg/m³ as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being an acceptable level. Although no amount of air pollution is considered to be safe.

When the level of air pollution is “Moderate” the given advice would be to remain indoors as much as possible, closing all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. Those who are more sensitive to poor air quality should reduce the amount of time spent outside and wear a good quality mask if this is unavoidable. There is a downloadable app from AirVisual.com which is suitable for all operating systems which gives the latest information regarding air quality in real-time.

Does this level of air pollution remain the same throughout the year in Nilai?

Air quality is very volatile as it can easily be affected by many things and is therefore very difficult to predict. Looking back at the 2020 figures released by IQAir.com, it can easily be seen that for the entire year, Nilai experienced “Moderate” air quality with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The cleanest month was April with a figure of 15.7 µg/m³ the worst month for air quality was August with a reading of 29.3 µg/m³.

Historically, records for air pollution have been kept since 2019 when a figure of 19.9 µg/m³ was recorded. This deteriorated to 22.8 µg/m³ in 2020 which was a surprise because most cities reported much better quality air because of the restrictions put into place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Many cars were no longer in daily use as offices were closed and staff worked from home. Factories and non-essential production units were also required to close which removed their emissions from the atmosphere, albeit on a temporary basis.

Is there a main source of air pollution in Nilai?

Haze is a phenomenon caused by the existence of many small particles that cannot be seen by the naked eye and float in the air. These particles may be of natural origin or a side effect of human activity. When these particles exist in large quantities and in clusters, they can block the sun's rays to the earth. This condition therefore reduces the distance of sight of the naked eye. The main causes for the production of haze are open burning, smoke from factories and emissions from vehicles.

The haze that occurs in Malaysia is caused by large-scale illegal burning that is often carried out around July and October. It happens probably because the burnt land can be sold at a higher price for use by the palm oil industry and the manufacture of pulp wood. Burning is also an easier method than logging work using an excavator or other machine.

Can anything be done to improve air quality in Nilai?

Among the reasons for forest burning is for the purpose of clearing the land before agricultural activities are carried out. The palm oil industry in Malaysia has adopted a 'zero burning' policy to achieve sustainability. Unfortunately, the country’s rice industry contributes to carbon dioxide emissions into the air. This is because, when the paddy season is over, the residue of the paddy straw was burned.

Apart from being an easy way to prepare the area before planting, it also aims to control diseases and pests as well as waste management after the crop is harvested.

Straw can be sold to animal breeders as a source of food. In addition, this rice straw can be used as compost and biochar. This can then be reused in agricultural activities as a source of nutrients.

The public transport system provided by the government must not require the commuters to frequently change lines or 'stations' before reaching the destination. A simpler and easier way should be thought of by the government for the public to buy public transport tickets such as by providing the convenience of an integrated ticket buying system.

What are the health impacts of breathing dirty air in Nilai?

Air pollution is now one of the biggest environmental risks for early death, responsible for more than 6 million premature deaths each year from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and respiratory diseases. That’s more than the deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

Children, the elderly, people with pre-existing diseases, and minority and low-income communities are particularly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes and economic impacts, such as missed work days, from exposure to air pollution.

Particulate matter (PM) is made up of small airborne particles like dust, soot and drops of liquids. The majority of PM in urban areas is formed directly from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants, automobiles, non-road equipment and industrial facilities. Other sources are dust, diesel emissions and secondary particle formation from gases and vapours.

Coarse particulate matter (PM10, particles less than 10 microns in diameter) is known to cause nasal and upper respiratory tract health problems. Fine particles (PM2.5, particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter) penetrate deeper into the lungs and may cause heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and bronchitis, as well as premature death from heart ailments, lung disease and cancer. Studies show that higher PM2.5 exposure can impair brain development in children.