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Title:	Comprehensive assessment of hazardous volatile organic compounds in ambient air of highly developed area of Kuala Lumpur
Authors:	Haris Hafizal Abd Hamid (P82660)
Supervisor:	Mohd Talib Latif, Prof. Dr.
Keywords:	Volatile organic compounds -- Environmental aspects -- Malaysia Air quality management -- Malaysia Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations Dissertations, Academic -- Malaysia
Issue Date:	3-Mar-2020
Description:	Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in urban environment such as in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia jeopardize the overall wellbeing of the inhabitants. Among the HAPs, the volatile organic compounds (VOC) give a significant impact towards people in KL. This research focuses on hazardous VOCs in ambient air in KL: the level, their sources and their health impacts to the local population. Identification and measurement of VOCs were carried out through Thermal Desorption (TD) coupled with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Sampling was conducted with active and passive methods as recommended by EPA TO-17, by using Tenax® TA/1TD and Tenax® GR absorbent, respectively. All absorbents were packed in stainless steel tube 89 mm (L) x 6.5 mm (OD). In addition, continuous monitoring was conducted by using BTEX gas chromatography analyser, particularly for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX). Sampling results with an active sampling from August 2016 to March 2017 (n =58) showed that 30 hazardous VOCs were identifiable and measurable. The average of Ʃ30VOCs was 85.32 ± 43.07 ppbv with a range from 38.61 to 163.12 ppbv. The aromatic hydrocarbon group dominated the VOC with 61%, followed by aliphatic (14%), oxygenate/carbonyl (10%), others (10%) and halogenated compounds (4%). Of all, BTEX dominated the aromatic group in the ambient air of KL. The average of ƩBTEX from continuous monitoring (n =3794) and passive sampling (n= 30) were 13.01 ± 6.30 ppbv and 15.52 ± 1.11 ppbv, respectively. Interspecies ratio of BTEX for T:B was 3-4, indicating that motor vehicles emission was potentially the important source for VOC pollution in KL. Health risk evaluation based on adult inhalation of VOC for cancer risk identified that benzene, ethylbenzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene and benzyl chloride exceeded the annual cancer risk limit of 1 x 10-6 set by United States of Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Meanwhile, other VOCs were evaluated based on hazard quotient (HQ) for non-cancer risk and it was found < 1, except for Methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE). The health risk assessments revealed that the population in KL was exposed to a mixture of hazardous and toxic VOCs. Among the sources motor vehicle emission arising from rapid urbanization was suspected as the main culprit. Therefore, VOC monitoring program in ambient air especially in urban area is recommended. The authorities need to evaluate the health impacts and design suitable VOC abatement policies accordingly.,Ph.D.
Pages:	181
Call Number:	TD885.5.O74H337 2020 tesis
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Institute for Environment and Development / Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan (LESTARI)

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