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. 2022 May 10;12(1):7630.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11409-z.

Spatial-temporal variability and heath impact of particulate matter during a 2019-2020 biomass burning event in Southeast Asia

Murnira Othman  1   2 , Mohd Talib Latif  3 , Haris Hafizal Abd Hamid  3 , Royston Uning  4 , Thipsukon Khumsaeng  5 , Worradorn Phairuang  6 , Zawawi Daud  7 , Juferi Idris  8   9 , Nurzawani Md Sofwan  3   10 , Shih-Chun Candice Lung  11
Affiliations

Spatial-temporal variability and heath impact of particulate matter during a 2019-2020 biomass burning event in Southeast Asia

Murnira Othman et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

To understand the characteristics of particulate matter (PM) in the Southeast Asia region, the spatial-temporal concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 in Malaysia (Putrajaya, Bukit Fraser and Kota Samarahan) and Thailand (Chiang Mai) were determined using the AS-LUNG V.2 Outdoor sensor. The period of measurement was over a year from 2019 to 2020. The highest concentrations of all sizes of PM in Putrajaya, Bukit Fraser and Kota Samarahan were observed in September 2019 while the highest PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations in Chiang Mai were observed between March and early April 2020 with 24 h average concentrations during haze days in ranges 83.7-216 µg m-3, 78.3-209 µg m-3 and 57.2-140 µg m-3, respectively. The average PM2.5/PM10 ratio during haze days was 0.93 ± 0.05, which was higher than the average for normal days (0.89 ± 0.13) for all sites, indicating higher PM2.5 concentrations during haze days compared to normal days. An analysis of particle deposition in the human respiratory tract showed a higher total deposition fraction value during haze days than on non-haze days. The result from this study indicated that Malaysia and Thailand are highly affected by biomass burning activity during the dry seasons and the Southwest monsoon.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Daily average concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 in (a) Putrajaya, (b) Bukit Fraser, (c) Kota Samarahan and (d) Chiang Mai.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Monthly mean of PM2.5 concentration at (a) Putrajaya, (b) Bukit Fraser, (c) Kota Samarahan and (d) Chiang Mai.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Seasonal variation of CO2, temperature and relative humidity based on different seasons in Putrajaya, Bukit Fraser, Kota Samarahan and Chiang Mai (IM 1, SW Monsoon, IM 2, and NE Monsoon represent Inter Monsoon 1, Southwest Monsoon, Inter Monsoon 2, and Northeast Monsoon respectively).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cluster trajectory and hotspots distribution during haze days in Putrajaya, Bukit Fraser, Kota Samarahan and Chiang Mai. The maps were made using ArcMap v10.8.1 geospatial processing program http://www.esri.com and MODIS fire hotspot was downloaded from Aqua and Terra fire hotspot (https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@0.0,0.0,3z). The map was produced by the author.
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