Characterization of particulate matter at construction site

Abstract

The presence of Particulate Matter (PM) threatens human life especially when it is exposed to unknown air and are frightened if the air inhale will result to death and illness. The PM is known to be invisible, floating in the earth atmosphere and can penetrate respiratory system, blood molecule which later harmful to human life. The emission can existed caused by either the debris from the transport, construction site or even during dry weather. This study reveals the construction site located at Johor Baharu. The Malaysian air pollution standard index (API) will be used as a benchmark for PM pollution. This study aim is to determine the characterization of particulate matter (PM) produced from construction sites with regard to Particulate Matter 10 |am (PM 10) and 2.5 (iim (PM2.5). The experimental study was conducted at building construction sites over a period of work days for 8 hour. Portable air samplers were used to collect the particulate matter that used sticky pads collected settle dust and the weather condition such as temperature, wind speed and relative humidity was measure to examine the relation in emission of particulate matter. The finding from this study shows that construction site activity produce emission of Particulate Matter to the environment and exceeding the Malaysia Air Pollution Index (API) standard of I50|ig/m3. There are 6 days beyond API standard level which 277 fig/m3, 2 days of 208.33 |ig/m3 and 173pg/m3 and 243 pg/m3. The concentration of the data beyond than 50 percent from the API standard and it is need for urgency in concern of construction site environment communities. Beside that chemical element of PM at construction sites presences of component K, Na, Ca and A1 t which indicate from concreting work site activity. Toward the end, the study also shows that’s Pm 2.5 is directly proportion with PM 10. Hence this paper provides a valuable knowledge for various real situations and provides a basis for improving the methodology of collecting PM on construction sites and controlling the production of PM.