What is pollution?

• An issue of concern in the modern world that we live in

today.
• Types of pollution includes air, water and noise pollution.
(Afroz, Hassan and Ibrahim, 2003)
• Long term exposure is the biggest source of danger for our
health and planet. (The Lancet Planetary Health, 2017)

DID YOU KNOW?

More than 80% untreated, polluting rivers,
lakes and coastal areas are found in
advanced countries. (UNESCO, 2009)
 Pollutions in Malaysia
• Malaysia is rapidly moving towards urbanization for better quality of life
which causes ecological abasement. (Mei, Wai and Ahamad, 2016)
• Department of Environment Malaysia monitored and found out that 72 %
of 473 rivers were polluted with 25 rivers classified as severely polluted.
(Department of Environment, 2013)
• Major sources for air pollution are from mobile sources, stationary
sources, and open burning sources. (Afroz, Hassan and Ibrahim, 2003)
 Haze
In June 2016, Malaysia had its
worst case of haze in 16 years
due to forest fires in Indonesia.
Air pollutant index (API) hit 750 in Muar.
(An API level of more than 300 is defined as
“highly hazardous” in Malaysia.)
In 1997-1998, the haze cost
Southeast Asia an estimated
US$9 billion (RM27.9 billion)
from disruptions to air travel and
other business activities.
All non-essential places of employment in the private and public sector,
schools in the capitals are advised to shut down.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/haze-worst-in-16-years-due-to-indonesia-fires
 Water pollution
In 2006, the Department of Environment (DOE) registered
18,956 water pollution point sources comprising mainly
sewage treatment plants (9,060 : 47.79% inclusive of 601
Network Pump Stations), manufacturing industries (8,543
: 45.07%), animal farms (869 : 4.58%) and agro-based
industries (484 : 2.55%)

A number of rivers in West

Malaysia are considered “dead”.
says Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit.
Speaking at a National Transformation (TN50) dialogue session organised by the ministry
here today, James revealed that checks showed the affected rivers have low or zero-levels
of dissolved oxygen.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/277284/many-rivers-west-malaysia-considered-dead
 Domestic sewage discharge, in the form of treated sewage and partially treated sewage, remained the
largest contributor of organic pollution load with an estimated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) load of
883,391.08 kg/day.
Table 1: Total BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) Load (kg/day) from Sewage Treatment Plants

Source: Department of Environment. River Water Pollution Sources. Putrajaya: DOE; 2006
• World Water Assessment Programme. The United Nations World Water
Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London:
Earthscan; 2009
• Department of Environment. Malaysia Environmental Quality Report 2013.
Putrajaya: DOE; 2014
• Department of Environment. River Water Pollution Sources. Putrajaya: DOE; 2006.
• The Lancet Planetary Health, Our polluted world: the need for a global pollution
strategy, The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 1, Issue 6, 2017, Page e209, ISSN
2542-5196, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30103-1.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519617301031)
• Mei, N., Wai, C. and Ahamad, R. (2016). Public Environmental Awareness and
Behaviour in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Quality of Life, 2(5), p.43.
• Afroz, R., Hassan, M. and Ibrahim, N. (2003). Review of air pollution and health
impacts in Malaysia. Environmental Research, 92(2), pp.71-77.