ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

ECW 568
OPEN-ENDED LAB REPORT

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : AIR PARTICLES

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 28/4/2021
GROUP : EC2206A6B
GROUP MEMBERS 1. NURUL FATIN HANIS BINTI SHARIF (2018200268)
2. NURUL MALIYANA BINTI MOHD AZMI (2018224072)
3. NURUL NABILAH BINTI RADZWAN (2018238994)
4. NURUL IZZAHTUL AKMAL BINTI AB WAHAB (2018801766)
5. NURIN FARZANA BINTI HAMZARI (2018238946)

LECTURER : IR. TS. ZAIZATUL ZAFFLINA MOHD ZAKI

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 2

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY 1 2 3 4 5
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5
ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
 Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1

2.0 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 1
3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES ........................................................................................ 1
4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT ........................................................................................ 1
5.0 APPARATUS ........................................................................................................... 2
6.0 PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................... 2
7.0 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS .................................................................................... 2
8.0 DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................... 8
9.0 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 10
10.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 11
1.0 INTRODUCTION

Particulates in the air vary from location to location within the area. Air particles are
tiny subdivisions of solid matter suspended in a gas or liquid. In contrast, aerosol refers to
particles and/or liquid droplets and the gas together. Sources of particulate matter can be
manmade or natural. Large amount of air particles in the environment is the main cause of air
pollution which can bring various implications such as health problem and reduce visibility.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The Objectives of this experiment are:

1. To determine the presence of particulate matter in air.

2. To analyze data and interpret the results of the air particle experiment.

3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able:

1. To acquire and develop sublime psychomotor skills in conducting laboratory

experiments.
2. To work as a team, demonstrate leadership and enhance communication skills through
discussion.

4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Haze has become a national concern over the past few years. Health reports have
indicated the rise of respiratory problems particularly to the elders and the younglings as well.
Schools and universities were also affected and closed down for few days which eventually
affected the teaching and learning process. Latest information on the air quality is inevitably
crucial and important now. As a group you are required to conduct an experiment to measure
the particulate matter in the air at various locations in the faculty. You are advised to consider
environment factors such as the study locations, ambient temperature, wind speed, elevation

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and other as well as duration of measurement (accumulated or independent) which may affect
the experiment and results.

5.0 APPARATUS

Apparatus used in this experiment are:

1. PCE-RCM 10 Air Quality Monitor.

6.0 PROCEDURES

1. The device is switched on. The device will start collecting data right away.
Concentration of small particles displayed on left and concentration of large particles
displayed on right.
2. MODE button is pressed to make device into monitor mode, which when the device
started recording the concentration of air particles for every 1 minute.
3. MODE button is pressed 2 times to show the hour history.
4. SELECT then is pressed to view hour history.
5. All data stored in the device is recorded.

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7.0 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

180
PARTICLE SIZE (X10^-6) (G/M^3)

160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
7:12 AM 9:36 AM 12:00 PM 2:24 PM 4:48 PM 7:12 PM 9:36 PM
TIME

PM2.5 (Location 1) PM10 (Location 1) PM2.5 (Location 2) PM10 (Location 2)

Graph 1: Particles size at different sample locations.

Location 1
TIME PM2.5 API
8:00 AM 35 68.7
9:00 AM 36 69.5
10:00 AM 35 68.7
11:00 AM 36 69.5
12:00 PM 36 69.5
1:00 PM 36 69.5
2:00 PM 36 69.5
3:00 PM 35 68.7
4:00 PM 35 68.7
5:00 PM 38 71.0
6:00 PM 40 72.6
7:00 PM 39 71.8
8:00 PM 39 71.8
Table 1: Particle’s size collected and its API at different times.

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API = 0.7741 x (X-12.1) + 51
Where X = PM2.5

TIME PM10 API

8:00 AM 100 75

9:00 AM 105 77.5

10:00 AM 110 80

11:00 AM 105 77.5

12:00 PM 100 75

1:00 PM 110 80

2:00 PM 105 77.5

3:00 PM 103 76.5

4:00 PM 100 75

5:00 PM 101 75.5

6:00 PM 103 76.5

7:00 PM 99 74.5

8:00 PM 101 75.5

Table 2: Particle’s size collected and its API at different times.

API = 50 + ((X-50) x 0.5)

Where X = PM10

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Location 2

TIME PM2.5 API

8:00 AM 59 87.30529

9:00 AM 60 88.07939

10:00 AM 62 89.62759

11:00 AM 63 90.40169

12:00 PM 65 91.94989

1:00 PM 68 94.27219

2:00 PM 67 93.49809

3:00 PM 66 92.72399

4:00 PM 68 94.27219

5:00 PM 70 95.82039

6:00 PM 71 96.59449

7:00 PM 72 97.36859

8:00 PM 71 96.59449
Table 3: Particle’s size collected and its API at different times.

API = 0.7741 x (X-12.1) + 51

Where X = PM2.5

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 TIME PM10 API

8:00 AM 125 87.5

9:00 AM 130 90

10:00 AM 135 92.5

11:00 AM 135 92.5

12:00 PM 140 95

1:00 PM 140 95

2:00 PM 141 95.5

3:00 PM 142 96

4:00 PM 142 96

5:00 PM 148 99

6:00 PM 150 100

7:00 PM 155 102.5

8:00 PM 155 102.5

Table 4: Particle’s size collected and its API at different times.

API = 50 + ((X-50) x 0.5) for 50 < X < 150,

API = 100 + ((X-150)*0.5) for 150 < X < 350
Where X = PM10

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 API at Location 1
82.0
80.0
78.0
76.0
API

74.0
72.0
70.0
68.0
66.0
7:12 AM 9:36 AM 12:00 PM 2:24 PM 4:48 PM 7:12 PM 9:36 PM
Time

API PM2.5 API PM10

Graph 2: Comparison of API for different particles’ size at location 1.

API at Location 2
104
102
100
98
96
API

94
92
90
88
86
7:12 AM 9:36 AM 12:00 PM 2:24 PM 4:48 PM 7:12 PM 9:36 PM
Time

API PM2.5 API PM10

Graph 3: Comparison of API for different particles’ size at location 2.

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 Figure 1: API values and its status.

8.0 DISCUSSION

Particulate Matters, PM are formed through physical motion, like pulverized dust
getting wind swept, and other particulate matter are formed through gaseous chemical reactions
in the atmosphere. PM is regulated because it has negative health consequences, especially
when it is small enough to travel deep into the lungs, and be respired. This will lead to a serious
health condition to the people who breathes the air.

Based on the data taken, there are 2 location which gives two different results. In the
data taken for the first location for PM2.5, the lowest reading is 35 µg/m³ which were recorded
at 8am, 10 am, 3 pm, and 4 pm. As for the highest, the reading recorded were at 40 µg/m³,
which was taken at 6 pm. For the second location on PM2.5, the lowest reading was at 59
µg/m³, recorded at 8 am, and the highest reading were at 72 µg/m³, recorded on 7 pm. For the
data taken on PM10, the lowest reading for the first location were at 99 µg/m³, recorded on 7
pm. And, the highest reading for the first location were at 110 µg/m³, taken at 10 am and 1 pm.
When looking at the second location, the lowest data were at 125 µg/m3, recorded at 8 am.
And, the highest data taken were at 155 µg/m³, recorded from 7 pm and 8 pm.

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 Table 5:

Table 5: New Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Standard.

Based on Table 5, the standard of the New Malaysia Ambient air quality shows that the
PM10 has the value of 100 and after it was being compared with data that we obtained from
location 1 and location 2, the value ranging in 100 to 155 µg/m³ which exceeded the standard
in 2020. In location 1, the average value of PM10 is 103.23 µg/m³ while the average value of
PM10 in location 2 is 141.38 µg/m³. These average shows that both of the locations are not
safe for human to live in. The value of standard of PM2.5 in 2020 is 35 µg/m³ while location 1
has value of PM2.5 ranging in 35 to 40 µg/m³ and in location 2 ranging in 59 to 72 µg/m³. With
a thorough reading, we can see that location 1 has a good quality of air since the value does not
exceed the standard that much but location 2 exceeded the standard by a large value with an
average of 66.31 µg/m³.

Referring to the Air Pollution Index (API), the first location was classified on Good to
Moderate. For PM2.5, the lowest reading for the first location were at 35 µg/m³, which is
between the range 0 to 50, classifying the air quality as Good. Whereas the highest reading was
at 40 µg/m³ which is also classified as Good. By looking at this data, we can predict that the
location for the first location’s data is most likely to be indoor. For the second location on
PM2.5, the lowest reading was at 59 µg/m³. It is placed in the range of 51 to 100, classifying it
as Moderate. And for the highest reading, the data taken were at 72 µg/m³. This places it in
the range of 51 to 100 too, thus it is also classified as Moderate. When comparing this to the
Air Pollution Index, we can predict the location to be outdoor as the high level of API are
probably caused by vehicles. Next, for PM10, on the first location the lowest reading were at
99 µg/m³, placing it in the range of 51 to 100, which classifying it as Moderate while the highest
reading for location 1 were 110 µg/m³. This is in the range of 101 to 200, classifying it as
Unhealthy. For the second reading, the lowest reading was recorded at 125 µg/m³, which ranges

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from 101 to 200, classifying it as Unhealthy. And, the highest reading is 155 µg/m³. This is
ranged in 101 to 200, classified as Unhealthy. By observing the result of PM2.5 and PM10,
Location 1 is predicted to be located in the classroom of the faculty, as the readings of the Air
Pollution Index are lower. For Location 2, it is predicted that the data were taken at the bus
stop of Dataran Cendekia UiTM Shah Alam, as the high readings of Air Pollution Index are
most likely to be caused by the vehicles in the campus.

9.0 CONCLUSION

Particulates are the term for tiny particles that could be found in the air. These particles
vary greatly in size, composition and origin. Besides, particulate matter is the sum of all solid
and liquid particles suspended in air which are many of them are hazardous.

PM2.5 and PM10 are minute particles present in the air and exposed to it is very harmful
for health. PM2.5 refers to the atmospheric particulate matter that has a diameter of less than
2.5 micrometers, which is about 3% of the diameter of human hair. The particles in PM2.5
category are so small that they can only be detected with the help of the electron microscope.
These are smaller than PM10 particles. PM10 are the particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers
and they are also called fine particles. An environmental expert says that PM10 is also known
as respirable particulate matter.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the presence of particulate matter in the air at
two different locations. The study used PCE-RCM 10 Air Quality Analyzer to measure the
data. To summarize, PM2.5 at the Location 1 shows the overall reading for the first location
which predicted is at the classroom of the faculty were classified as GOOD. It shows that the
air at the location there is unharmful for the human health. Furthermore, for the Location 2 on
PM2.5, the overall reading which is predicted to be located at bus stop of Dataran Cendekia in
UiTM Shah Alam was classified as MODERATE. It shows that it might be resulting to the
respiratory symptoms that probably cause by vehicle.

Moreover, for PM10, on the first location the lowest reading were at 99µg/m3, which
classifying it as MODERATE while the highest reading for Location 1 were 110µg/m3
classifying it as UNHEALTHY. The second reading, the lowest reading was recorded at

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125µg/m3 classifying it as UNHEALTHY while the highest reading is 155µg/m3 classified as
UNHEALTHY.

All in all, the study achieved the second aim of this study which is to analyze data and
interpret the results of the air particle experiment.

10.0 REFERENCES

• (DOE), D. o. (2013). New Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Standard. Retrieved from
https://www.doe.gov.my/portalv1/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Air-Quality-Standard-
BI.pd
• Ministry of Environment and Water. Air Pollutant Index. Retrieved from
https://www.doe.gov.my/portalv1/en/info-umum/english-air-pollutant-index-api/100

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