Iskandar Puteri air quality map

What interesting information about air quality can be found on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri?

This information can be found on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri which can be easily accessed from the main city page. Merely by selecting the map icon will encourage a new page to open which is filled with all available information about the current air quality.

When the map is first opened, the viewer will see an overall colour to the background as well as several coloured discs which are dotted across the page. This background colour is an overall indication of the current air quality. The coloured discs represent the position of the ground-level air monitoring stations within the vicinity, even though none are in the city of Iskandar Puteri. This city relies on data supplied by overhead satellites for its information about air quality. Displayed at the centre of these discs is a number which is the United States Air Quality Index number recorded by that station. This US AQI number is calculated from the measured levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants found in the city air. These are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Once established, it is used as a metric when making comparisons between other cities across the globe. It is fully endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Looking back to the main page, within the coloured banner at the top of the page is this US AQI number. When there is an asterisk to the right of the number, it indicates that the information is derived from overhead satellites. However, the results are very much the same. The colours seen to represent the air quality are standard colours throughout the IQAir website and range from pale green to dark maroon. The darker the colour, the worse the air quality.

During the month of November 2022, the air quality was categorised as being “Good” with a US AQI reading of 29. The main measured pollutant was PM2.5 with a level of 7.1 µg/m³. This level is almost one and a half times higher than the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Can areas of higher pollution be identified on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri?

Iskandar Puteri relies on satellite data for its information regarding air quality therefore it cannot differentiate between the different areas within the city.

Is there any more useful information on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri?

There is a lot more information on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri but the page needs to be viewed at maximum size, otherwise some information may remain hidden. The icon to view the page in full-screen mode can be found at the top right-hand side of the opening page.

When viewed in this way, a list of four options will clearly be seen on the left-hand side of the screen. The first option shows the position of the air monitoring stations in the immediate vicinity. Even though Iskandar Puteri has none of its own, some can still be seen in the local vicinity.

The second option shows the location of any wildfires that may be burning close by. This is when option number four becomes very useful as it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing wind so can show where the ensuing smoke from the fires may blow. During November 2022, there were no fires detected.

The third option shows the overall air quality by colouring the map background to reflect the current condition of the air. When it is a greenish colour, which it is at present, it represents “Good” quality air. Some may find this overall colour to be a little confusing, in which case, it can be deactivated and the map will then return to a more subdued colour palette.

More information can be seen on the far right of the screen in the form of a table which ranks the world cities according to their levels of air pollution. Only seven cities are shown by default, but the page can be expanded which will reveal the rest of the world cities in descending order.

Is the source of the polluted air shown on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri?

The source of the air pollution is not directly shown on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri but it is believed to be caused by the illegal burning of garbage. This usually happens during the hours of darkness when it is not as easy for the authorities to identify the culprits.

Another major source of polluted air is thought to come from Indonesia where scrubland is burned by means of preparation to plant it with palms for the production of palm oil. Grassland fires are very harmful because no one actually knows what is carried in the smoke. Many other substances are burnt in these fires as it is seen as an easy way to dispose of garbage, no matter what it is. Malaysia must also carry some blame for this open burning as it too carries out this practice, even though it is mostly illegal.

PM2.5 is often used as a standard on the air pollution map for Iskandar Puteri, but what is it?

PM2.5 is easily found in many places. It also easily enters the human respiratory system. That is why PM2.5 becomes the most lethal airborne particle to humans slowly without the victim noticing. PM2.5 that accumulates in the lungs and other organs can cause respiratory diseases, asthma or heart disease. PM2.5 is also effective in making these diseases worse and can lead to premature death.

Air pollution, especially very subtle ones such as PM2.5, is very dangerous for health, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Diseases that can occur due to high PM2.5 include stroke, heart disease, respiratory infections, cancer and chronic lung disease.

Especially for respiratory diseases, PM2.5 is a particle that can worsen more quickly because it can settle in the respiratory tract of the bronchi and alveoli. PM2.5 is more dangerous than particle PM10 because it is not filtered in the upper respiratory system and sticks to the lung bubbles, which can reduce the ability of the lungs to exchange gases.