Sains Malaysiana 42(8)(2013): 1065–1072

PM_2.5 and Associated Ionic Species in a Sub-urban Coastal Area of

Kuala Terengganu, Southern South China Sea (Malaysia)

(PM_2.5 dan Spesies Ion Berkaitan di Kawasan Bandar Pesisir Pantai, Kuala Terengganu,

Perairan Selatan Laut China Selatan (Malaysia))

Norhayati Mohd Tahir*, Meikee Koh & Suhaimi Suratman

Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemical Sciences,

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Norhayati Mohd Tahir* & Suhaimi Suratman

Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Received: 1 November 2011/Accepted: 3 April 2013

ABSTRACT

PM_2.5 mass concentration and associated water-soluble ionic species in a sub-urban coastal area of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia were investigated intermittently from year 2006 to 2009. A total of 78 weekly PM_2.5 samples were analyzed. The mass concentration of PM_2.5 exhibited annual, seasonal and diurnal variations. Temporal distributions of rainfall, sporadic haze episodes and local air flow (sea breeze circulation) were factors controlling PM_2.5 mass variations in the study area. Although the PM_2.5 concentrations were increased during haze episodes in 2006 (August and October) and 2007 (October), their concentrations however, were still within the international guidelines. The average concentration of individual ions was in decreasing trend; SO₄^2-> NH₄⁺> K⁺> Na⁺> NO₃-> Cl-> Ca₂⁺. The concentrations of SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺ accounted for > 70% of the water-soluble aerosol mass. More than 80% of ionic species associated with PM_2.5 are from non-marine sources. Major processes affecting the ionic composition of PM_2.5 are biomass burning, crustal loading and sea spray. Air quality mitigation strategies should focus on anthropogenic activities emitting SO₂, which promotes aerosol SO₄^2- formation.

Keywords: Aerosols; fine particles; source apportionment, trans-boundary haze episode; water-soluble ionic species

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian mengenai kepekatan jisim PM_2.5 dan spesies ion larut air di kawasan bandar pesisir pantai Kuala Terengganu telah dijalankan secara berkala mulai tahun 2006 hingga 2009. Sejumlah 78 sampel mingguan telah dianalisis. Kepekatan jisim PM_2.5 mempamerkan perubahan harian, musim dan tahunan. Taburan hujan, jerebu yang berlaku sekali-sekala dan aliran udara tempatan (kitaran bayu laut) adalah faktor yang mempengaruhi perubahan kepekatan PM_2.5 di kawasan kajian. Walaupun kepekatan PM_2.5 didapati meningkat semasa berlakunya jerebu pada 2006 (Ogos dan Oktober) dan 2007 (Oktober), namun nilainya masih di bawah aras piawai kualiti udara antarabangsa.  Kepekatan purata ion individu berkurang mengikut turutan SO₄^2-> NH₄⁺> K⁺> Na⁺> NO₃^-> Cl-> Ca₂⁺. Kepekatan SO₄^2- dan NH₄⁺ menyumbang lebih 70% daripada keseluruhan jisim spesies ion yang dianalisis. Di samping itu, lebih 80% spesies ion ini didapati berpunca daripada sumber bukan marin. Faktor utama yang mempengaruhi kandungan PM_2.5 adalah pembakaran biojisim, elemen semula jadi daripada kerak bumi dan semburan daripada laut. Justeru itu, strategi menangani kualiti udara seharusnya memberi penekanan kepada aktiviti antropogenik yang menyebabkan pelepasan SO₂ yang menggalakkan pembentukan aerosol SO₄^2-.

Kata kunci: Aerosol; jerebu merentasi sempadan; pengenalpastian sumber; spesies ion terlarut air; zarahan halus

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*Corresponding author; email: hayati@umt.edu.my