AIR POLLUTION

Air Pollution Causes and Take Control Measures

Recently, the country was hit by severe haze from combustion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia (South Sumatra and Riau). Actually this is phenomenon haze air pollution. Many of the causes of air pollution. Among them are

Causes and Take Control Measures

1. Factory smoke emissions containing the poisonous gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen released oxide . Smoke also collared black and soot that can pollute the surrounding air.

Step over: Inflated chimneys up to 30 meters and place a filter smoke. With this smoke released has been treated. The manufacturer who disobeys, you can take legal action such as fines and imprisonment.

2. Motor vehicle emission. Public transport such as buses, trucks and taxis use diesel fuel as it is much cheaper. However, the use of diesel fuel is causing the smoke produced and released is colored black and pollutes the air, along with offensive -smelling nose.

Step over: Encourage the use of gasoline without the lead and install catalytic converter on a vehicle's engine to reduce emissions. In Kuala Lumpur, the use of electric trains such as LRT, ERL, commuter and monorail successful in reducing air pollution. This is because the electric train is a transportation system that is environmentally friendly because not emits black smoke.

3. Combustion of fossil fuels in thermal power generation stations. When fossil fuels are made ​​from petroleum, natural gas and coal are burned; black smoke will be released at the power station. For example, air pollution in Paka and Bintulu is because natural gas combustion in thermal power station in Paka and Bintulu.

Measures to overcome: Use of environmentally friendly alternative energy such as hydroelectric power, biomass and solar energy. Our country has been moving in this direction when some solar energy centre was built in the Gulf of Ewa, Langkawi and Tembeling Ulu Pahang.

4. Burning hay in paddy farming. To save costs, many farmers burn the rice straw after harvest. As a result, air pollution in the area as often happens in the Square Orissa and Bihar Square once.

Step over: agricultural waste such as rice straw can be used as a source for biomass energy as is used by the Rice Mill in Alor Setar.

5. Burning oil palm plantations, as was done by the owner of the farm in Sumatra and Riau recently. The result not only causes air pollution but also very severe haze events.

Step over: Waste oil palm can be recycled as compost and animal feed. 

6. Open burning in residential areas. Although this activity does not involve a wide area, but has caused air pollution in the residential area.

Measures to overcome: the Local Authority (LA) has set specific days for transporting the solid waste in residential areas. Hopefully, this will reduce open burning done by housing residents.