National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to

set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 CFR part 50) for pollutants

considered harmful to public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act

identifies two types of national ambient air quality standards. Primary

standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of

"sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary

standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against

decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six principal

pollutants, which are called "criteria" pollutants. They are listed below. Units of

measure for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume, parts per billion

(ppb) by volume, and micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).

Final rule signed October 15, 2008.  The 1978 lead standard (1.5 µg/m3 as

a quarterly average) remains in effect until one year after an area is designated for

the 2008 standard, except that in areas designated nonattainment for the 1978, the

1978 standard remains in effect until implementation plans to attain or maintain

the 2008 standard are approved.

The official level of the annual NO2 standard is 0.053 ppm, equal to 53

ppb, which is shown here for the purpose of clearer comparison to the 1-hour

standard.

Final rule signed March 12, 2008.  The 1997 ozone standard (0.08 ppm,

annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour concentration, averaged over 3

years) and related implementation rules remain in place.  In 1997, EPA revoked

the 1-hour ozone standard (0.12 ppm, not to be exceeded more than once per year)

in all areas, although some areas have continued obligations under that standard

(“anti-backsliding”).  The 1-hour ozone standard is attained when the expected

number of days per calendar year with maximum hourly average concentrations

above 0.12 ppm is less than or equal to 1.

Final rule signed June 2, 2010.  The 1971 annual and 24-hour SO2

standards were revoked in that same rulemaking.  However, these standards

remain in effect until one year after an area is designated for the 2010 standard,

except in areas designated nonattainment for the 1971 standards, where the 1971

standards remain in effect until implementation plans to attain or maintain the

2010 standard are approved.

See historical tables of NAAQS standards

Carbon Monoxide

Lead

Nitrogen Dioxide

Ozone

Particle Pollution

Sulfur Dioxide

Menu of Control Measures for NAAQS Implementation

The Menu of Control Measures (MCM) provides state, local and tribal air

agencies with the existing emission reduction measures as well as relevant

information concerning the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the measures.

State, local and tribal agencies will be able to use this information in developing

emission reduction strategies, plans and programs to assure they attain and

maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  The MCM is a

living document that can be updated with newly available or more current data as

it becomes available.

Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Guidelines

Air Quality Trend

(http://www.doe.gov.my/webportal/en/info-umum/english-air-quality-trend/)

Six criteria pollutants, namely Carbon Monoxide , Nitrogen Dioxide,

Ozone, Sulphur Dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM10) were monitored

continuously at 52 locations while lead concentrations was measured once in

every six days at two locations.

The ambient air quality standard in Malaysia addressed in terms of major

pollutants including ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,

sulfur dioxide, total suspended particulate (TSP), particulate matter below 10

microns (PM10), and lead. The averaging time, which varies from 1 to 24 hours for

the different air pollutants in the MAAQS, represents the period of time over

which measurements is monitored and reported for the assessment of human

health impacts of specific air pollutants.

Schedule 1 - Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard (MAAQS)

Air Pollutant Index (API)

Figure 1 : Air Pollution Index Flowchart

The ambient air quality measurement in Malaysia is described in terms of

Air Pollutant Index (API). The API is developed in easily understood ranges of

values as a means of reporting the quality of air instead of using the actual

concentration of air pollutants. This index also reflects its effect on human health

ranging from good to hazardous and also can be categorized according to the

action criteria as stipulated in the National Haze Action Plan. The Malaysian API

system closely follows the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) developed by the

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA).

The air pollutant index scale and terms used in describing the air quality

levels are as in figure 1.

How is the API calculated ?

Following the requirement of the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard 

(MAAQS) from the standpoint of human health implications, the pollutants was

measured at varying averaging time according to WHO standard2. To determine

the API for a given time period, the sub-index values (for all five air pollutants

included in the API System) were calculated based on the average concentration

calculated. The maximum sub-index of all five pollutants was selected as the API

and the specific responsible air pollutants for the API value has to be reported to

indicate the relevant health effect category and actions to be taken. The process

flow chart for calculating API value at a given time was detailed in figure 2

below.

Paparan IPU dari 06:00AM hingga 11:00AM pada 01-09-2013 Hourly API from 06:00AM to 11:00AM on 01-09-2013

KAWASAN/AREA

MASA/TIME06:00AM

MASA/TIME07:00AM

MASA/TIME08:00AM

MASA/TIME09:00AM

MASA/TIME10:00AM

MASA/TIME11:00AM

JohorKota Tinggi

34* 33* 33* # # #

JohorLarkin Lama

42* 41* 40* # # #

Johor Muar 25* 24* 23* # # #

JohorPasir Gudang

25* 25* 25* # # #

KedahAlor Setar

21* 20* 19* # # #

Kedah

Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani

28* 29* 28* # # #

KedahLangkawi

29* 28* 28* # # #

Kelantan

SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu

45* 45* 46* # # #

KelantanTanah Merah

51* 51* 51* # # #

MelakaBandaraya Melaka

45* 45* 44* # # #

MelakaBukit Rambai

64* 63* 62* # # #

Negeri Sembilan

Nilai 44* 42* 40* # # #

Negeri Sembilan

Port Dickson

37* 36* 34* # # #

Negeri Sembilan

Seremban

36* 35* 35* # # #

Pahang Balok Baru,

31* 30* 29* # # #

Kuantan

Pahang

Indera Mahkota, Kuantan

44* 44* 43* # # #

Pahang Jerantut 36* 36* 35* # # #

PerakJalan Tasek, Ipoh

34* 34* 34* # # #

PerakKg. Air Putih, Taiping

24* 23* 22* # # #

PerakS K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh

49* 49* 49* # # #

PerakSeri Manjung

38* 38* 37* # # #

PerakTanjung Malim

41* 41* 40* # # #

Perlis Kangar 25* 24* 25* # # #

Pulau Pinang

Perai 19* 18* 17* # # #

Pulau Pinang

Seberang Jaya 2, Perai

25* 25* 23* # # #

Pulau Pinang

USM 32* 31* 30* # # #

SabahKeningau

21* 20* 20* # # #

SabahKota Kinabalu

30* 30* 31* # # #

SabahSandakan

26* 26* 26* # # #

Sabah Tawau 23* 23* 23* # # #

Sarawak Bintulu 30* 30* 29* # # #

Sarawak ILP Miri 13* 13* 13* # # #

Sarawak Kapit 32* 33* 33* # # #

Sarawak Kuching 25* 25* 25* # # #

Sarawak Limbang 32* 32* 31* # # #

Sarawak Miri 23* 23* 23* # # #

SarawakSamarahan

38* 38* 38* # # #

Sarawak Sarikei 39* 38* 38* # # #

Sarawak Sibu 17* 16* 16* # # #

SarawakSri Aman

39* 39* 40* # # #

Selangor Banting # # # # # #

SelangorKuala Selangor

35* 34* 34* # # #

SelangorPelabuhan Kelang

63* 62* 60* # # #

SelangorPetaling Jaya

# # # # # #

SelangorShah Alam

52* 51* 50* # # #

TerengganuKemaman

48* 48* 48* # # #

TerengganuKuala Terengganu

53* 53* 53* # # #

Terengganu Paka 33* 33* 32* # # #

Wilayah Persekutuan

Batu Muda,Kuala Lumpur

41* 39* 40* # # #

Wilayah Persekutuan

Cheras,Kuala Lumpur

36* 36* 37* # # #

Wilayah Persekutuan

Labuan 21* 21* 20* # # #

Wilayah Persekutuan

Putrajaya

38* 36* 35* # # #

Tempoh Kemaskini / Updating Duration

IPU setiap jam dikira berdasarkan cerapan data dari stesen pengawasan kualiti udara automatik yang dikawal secara jarak jauh (remote). Proses cerapan memerlukan kitaran masa selama 1 jam yang lengkap sebelum bacaan IPU dipaparkan. Sebagai contoh, bacaan IPU pada jam 7 pagi hanya akan lengkap selepas 1 jam cerapan iaitu pada jam 8 pagi sebelum dapat dikemaskini di laman APIMS Nota / Note

= Habuk Halus (PM10) c = Ozon (O3) a = Sulfur Dioksida (SO2) d = Karbon Monoksida (CO) b = Nitrogen Dioksida (NO2) & = Lebih daripada satu pencemar

Pengiraan IPU

Nilai IPU dikira berdasarkan kepekatan purata setiap pencemar udara iaitu SO2, NO2, CO, O3 dan PM10. Pencemar udara yang dominan dengan kepekatan tertinggi diambilkira sebagai pencemar yang akan menentukan nilai IPU. Pada lazimnya, kepekatan habuk halus (PM10) adalah yang tertinggi berbanding dengan pencemar yang lain dan ini menentukan bacaan IPU.

Pembentukan ozon di permukaan bumi (O3) Menjelang lewat tengahari atau pada awal petang, lazimnya kepekatan ozon adalah tinggi dan mendominasi bacaan IPU di sesetengah kawasan. Di bawah pengaruh cahaya matahari, oksid-oksid nitrogen dan sebatian organik meruap yang dilepaskan dari ekzos kenderaan bermotor dan industri bertindakbalas bagi membentuk ozon di permukaan bumi.