Association between traffic-related air pollutions (TRAPS) with air quality perception and respiratory symptoms among pedestrian and cyclists in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Zakaria, Mohamad Fadhil (2018) Association between traffic-related air pollutions (TRAPS) with air quality perception and respiratory symptoms among pedestrian and cyclists in Universiti Putra Malaysia. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution has recently received greater attention as a cause of respiratory disease, and research has shown that air pollutants and traffic in urban areas lead to the occurrence and worsening of respiratory diseases especially for those with active transport like cyclists and pedestrian when ventilation take into accounts. Objectives: To determine an association between traffic-related air pollutions with air quality perception and respiratory symptoms among pedestrian and cyclists in Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM campus. Methodology: A self-administered, validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, air quality perception and respiratory health symptoms in a university campus from January to March 2018 among pedestrian (N=90) and cyclists (N=90). Air quality assessment was conducted in three different roads around UPM including Jalan Alpha, Jalan Alpha-Kolej 2 and Jalan Universiti 1. All measurements were taken during three-time rush hour (morning, afternoon and evening) which include parameters of PM2.5, PM10 and ozone (O3) simultaneously with traffic count. Results and Discussion: Among 180 respondents, 89 (49.4%) of respondents believed that air quality was better than six months ago. The results of this study reveal that the study roads in UPM suffer with high concentration of air pollutants (PM10 = 83.8 µg/m3 ; PM2.5 = 48.9 µg/m3 ; O3 = 314.9 µg/m3) during rush hour which exceeded the 1-hour and 24-hour standards. Most of respondents (52.8%) indicated that old vehicles and too many private vehicles were the major contributor of air pollution. Most of respondents agreed with initiatives that carpooling, reducing number of private vehicles, improving the facilities of pedestrian and cyclists' lane and also walking and cycling to class could reduce air pollution emission from vehicles. Traffic volume was significantly corelated with the traffic-related air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5 and O3). Most of the pollutants were significantly associated with all six respiratory health symptoms (p = 0.001 ). Conclusion: The finding concluded that air quality in UPM campus was good. Old vehicles and too many private vehicles were the main contributor of air pollution. The highest concentration of air pollutants (PM10, PM25 and O3) was recorded in Jalan Alpha - kolej 2 and Jalan Universiti 1. Therefore, the findings from this study suggest the need for the university management to improve air quality and facilities, to more effectively and efficiently control and reduce traffic air pollution in UPM campus. Keywords: traffic-related air pollutions, air quality perception, respiratory health symptoms

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2024 04:02
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2024 04:02
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2243

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