2019 Southeast Asia Transboundary Haze and its Influence on Particulate Matter Variations: A Case Study in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

i

This article has been updated. A Correction to this article was published on .

i

The Original Article was published on

i

The Original Article was published on

i

This article has been updated

i

This article was retracted on

i

This article has been updated

Abstract

In 2019, Malaysia faced a deterioration of air quality due to transboundary haze, which brought negative implications, especially for public health. In light of the above scenario, continuous particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁) and meteorological parameters amid the haze period were taken to unravel the influence of haze on particulate matter variations and to investigate the association between particulate matter concentrations with meteorological parameters and fire hotspots in Kota Kinabalu, where it is rarely studied. Particulate matter and the meteorological parameters were monitored during the haze season, continuously from 21 August–30 September 2019, using AirMate, a ground-based air monitoring equipment. Air mass backward trajectories were simulated using the HYSPLIT Model, and fire hotspot data was obtained from the Greenpeace Global Fire Dashboard. The results showed increasing particulate matter concentrations during the haze period, with PM_2.5 exceeding the New Ambient Air Quality Standards (2020) on multiple days. For meteorological parameters, all parameters showed a significant weak positive relationship with respective particulate matter. However, the correlation between particulate matter and fire hotspots in Indonesia showed a moderate positive relationship. The backward trajectories simulated indicated the influence of south-westerly winds in transporting the pollutants from fire hotspots in the Indonesia region. Thus, we provide beneficial information about the impacted area during the 2019 transboundary haze episode, where the interactions between the particulate matter variations and the parameters studied were unraveled.

Keywords

transboundary haze / particulate matter / meteorology / transport air mass / air quality

CHANGE HISTORY

A Correction to this paper has been published:
https://doi.org

The Retraction Note was updated to reflect reception of statements of disagreement from all authors.

This article has been retracted.Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail:
https://doi.org

References

[1] Seinfeld JH, Pandis SN . (2016) Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change, 3^{Eds. , John Wiley & Sons.}

[2] Hanafi NH, Hassim MH, Noor ZZ, et al. (2019) Analysis of transported pollution and haze-related diseases via HYSPLIT Trajectory Modelling in the urbanized area of Johor, Malaysia. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 373: 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/373/1/012008

[3] Othman M, Latif MT, Hamid HHA, et al. (2022) Spatial-temporal variability and health impact of particulate matter during a 2019-2020 biomass burning event in Southeast Asia. Sci Rep 12: 7630. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11409-z

[4] Kirešová S, Guzan M (2022) Determining the Correlation between Particulate Matter PM10 and Meteorological Factors. Eng 3: 343-363. https://doi.org/10.3390/eng3030025.

[5] Morantes G, González JC, Rincón G (2021) Characterisation of particulate matter and identification of emission sources in Greater Caracas, Venezuela. Air Qual Atmos Health 14: 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01070-2

[6] Akademi Sains Malaysia, Haze Full Report, 2019. Available from: https://www.akademisains.gov.my/asmpub/haze-full-report/

[7] Latif MT, Othman M, Idris N, et al. (2018) Impact of regional haze towards air quality in Malaysia: A Review. Atmospheric Environ 177: 28-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.01.002

[8] Department of Environment (DOE). Chronology of haze episodes in Malaysia - department of environment - doe, 2021. Available from https://www.doe.gov.my/en/ 2021/10/26/chronology-of-haze-episodes-in-malaysia/

[9] Sulaiman NMS, Latif MT (2005) Effects of haze on human health in Malaysia: case study in 2005. Scientific report on the haze event in Peninsular Malaysia in August.

[10] Samsuddin NA, Khan MF, Maulud KN, et al. (2018) Local and transboundary factors' impacts on trace gases and aerosol during haze episode in 2015 El Niño in Malaysia. Sci Total Environ 630: 1502-1514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.289

[11] Sentian J, Jemain MA, Gabda D, et al. (2018) Long-term trends and potential associated sources of particulate matter (PM 10) pollution in Malaysia. WIT Trans Ecol Environ 230: 607-618. https://doi.org/10.2495/AIR180571.

[12] Yin S (2020) Biomass burning spatiotemporal variations over South and Southeast Asia. Environ Int 145: 106153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106153

[13] Phung VLH, Uttajug A, Ueda K, et al. (2022) A scoping review on the health effects of smoke haze from vegetation and peatland fires in Southeast Asia: Issues with study approaches and interpretation. Plos one 17: e0274433. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274433

[14] Sulong NA, Latif MT, Khan MF, et al. (2017) Source apportionment and health risk assessment among specific age groups during haze and non-haze episodes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sci Total Environ 601: 556-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.153

[15] Wang Y, Field RD, Roswintiarti O (2004) Trends in atmospheric haze induced by peat fires in Sumatra Island, Indonesia and El Niño phenomenon from 1973 to 2003. Geophys Res Lett 31. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018853

[16] Mendi V, Dwarakish GS (2015) El Niño: A Review. Int. J. Earth Sci. Eng. 8: 130-137.

[17] Khan MF, Hamid AH, Rahim HA, et al. (2020) El Niño driven haze over the southern Malaysian Peninsula and Borneo. Sci Total Environ 739: 139091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139091

[18] Cheong KH, Ngiam NJ, Morgan GG, et al. (2019) Acute health impacts of the Southeast Asian transboundary haze problem-A review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16: 3286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183286

[19] Othman J, Sahani M, Mahmud M, et al. (2014) Transboundary smoke haze pollution in Malaysia: Inpatient health impacts and economic valuation. Environ. Pollut 189: 194-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.03.010

[20] Chauhan PK, Kumar A, Pratap V, et al. (2022) Seasonal characteristics of PM1, PM2. 5 and PM10 over Varanasi during 2019-2020. Front Sustain Cities 4: 112. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2022.909351

[21] Wang X, Xu Z, Su H, et al. (2021) Ambient particulate matter (PM1, PM2. 5, PM10) and childhood pneumonia: the smaller particle, the greater short-term impact? Sci Total Environ 772: 145509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145509

[22] Zhang Y, Wei J, Shi Y, et al. (2021) Early-life exposure to submicron particulate air pollution in relation to asthma development in Chinese preschool children. J Allergy Clin Immunol 148: 771-782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2021.02.030

[23] Guo H, Li X, Wei J, et al. (2022) Smaller particular matter, larger risk of female lung cancer incidence? Evidence from 436 Chinese counties. BMC Public Health 22: 344. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12622-1

[24] Wui JCH, Pien C, Kai SK, et al. (2018) Variability of the PM 10 concentration in the urban atmosphere of Sabah and its responses to diurnal and weekly changes of CO, NO 2, SO 2 and Ozone. Asian J Atmos Environ 12: 09-126. https://doi.org/10.5572/ajae.2018.12.2.109.

[25] Tangang FT, Juneng L, Salimun E, et al. (2012) Climate change and variability over Malaysia: gaps in science and research information. Sains Malaysiana 41: 1355-1366.

[26] Rumaling MI, Chee FP, Dayou J, et al. (2019) Temporal Assessment on Variation of PM10 Concentration in Kota Kinabalu using Principal Component Analysis and Fourier Analysis. Curr World Environ 14: 400. http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.14.3.08

[27] Sansuddin N, Ramli NA, Yahaya AS, et al. (2011). Statistical analysis of PM 10 concentrations at different locations in Malaysia. Environ Monit Assess 180: 573-588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1806-8

[28] Dominick D, Juahir H, Latif MT, et al. (2012) Spatial assessment of air quality patterns in Malaysia using multivariate analysis. Atmospheric Environ 60: 172-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.06.021

[29] U.S.EPA. Sampling Points for Air Quality, Representativeness and Comparability of Measurement in Accordance with Directive 2008/50/EC on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe. Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies, 2016. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2019/631055/IPOL_STU(2019)631055_EN.pdf

[30] Ratner B (2009). The correlation coefficient: Its values range between+ 1/− 1, or do they? J Target Meas Anal Mark 17: 139-142. https://doi.org/10.1057/jt.2009.5

[31] Lala MA, Onwunzo CS, Adesina OA, et al. (2023) Particulate matters pollution in selected areas of Nigeria: Spatial analysis and risk assessment. Case Stud Therm Eng 7: 100288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100288

[32] Department of Environment Malaysia, Air Quality Standards, 2021. Available from: https://www.doe.gov.my/en/2021/12/15/air-quality-standards/

[33] Xing YF, Xu YH, Shi MH, et al. (2016) The impact of PM2. 5 on the human respiratory system. J Thorac Dis 8: E69-E74. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2016.01.19

[34] Khan MF, Latif MT, Saw WH, et al. (2016) Fine particulate matter in the tropical environment: monsoonal effects, source apportionment, and health risk assessment. Atmospheric Chem. Phys 16: 597-617. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-597-2016

[35] Yap J, Ng Y, Yeo KK, et al. (2019) Particulate air pollution on cardiovascular mortality in the tropics: impact on the elderly. Environ Health 18: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-019-0476-4

[36] Greenpeace, ASEAN Haze 2019: The Battle of Liability, 2019. Available from: https://www.greenpeace.org/southeastasia/press/3221/asean-haze-2019-the-battle-of-liability/#:~:text=Key%20points%3A,and%20peatland%20for%20industrial%20plantations

[37] Mahasakpan N, Chaisongkaew P, Inerb M, et al. (2023) Fine and ultrafine particle-and gas-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons affecting southern Thailand air quality during transboundary haze and potential health effects. J Environ Sci 124: 253-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.005

[38] Fujii Y, Iriana W, Oda M, et al. (2014) Characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols emitted from peatland fire in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia. Atmospheric Environ 87: 164-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.01.037

[39] Dejchanchaiwong R, Tekasakul P, Tekasakul S, et al. (2020) Impact of transport of fine and ultrafine particles from open biomass burning on air quality during 2019 Bangkok haze episode. J Environ Sci 97: 149-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2020.04.009

[40] Birim NG, Turhan C, Atalay AS, et al. (2023) The Influence of Meteorological Parameters on PM10: A Statistical Analysis of an Urban and Rural Environment in Izmir/Türkiye. Atmosphere 14: 421. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030421

[41] Lee G, Lee YG, Jeong E, et al. (2021) Roles of meteorological factors in inter-regional variations of fine and coarse PM concentrations over the Republic of Korea. Atmospheric Environ 264: 118706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118706

[42] Yang H, Peng Q, Zhou J, et al. (2020) The unidirectional causality influence of factors on PM2. 5 in Shenyang city of China. Sci Rep 10: 8403. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65391-5

[43] Kim MJ (2019) Changes in the relationship between particulate matter and surface temperature in Seoul from 2002-2017. Atmosphere 10: 238. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10050238

[44] Promsiri P, Tekasakul S, Thongyen T, et al. (2023) Transboundary haze from peatland fires and local source-derived PM2. 5 in Southern Thailand. Atmospheric Environ 294: 119512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119512