Meteorological factors affecting on PM2.5 concentrations in Bandaraya Melaka

The most hazardous pollutant, PM2.5 has caused serious environmental and public health issues. Living in an area with PM2.5 pollution can lead to respiratory problems as it can reach the human bloodstream through inhalation. Bandaraya Melaka was chosen to be the study area as it experienced urban tropical environments, where meteorological parameters, including ambient temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity, substantially impact the concentration of PM2.5. Hence, this study investigates the relationship between the concentration of PM2.5 and these meteorological factors using daily data collected from January to early July 2019. Statistical analyses were conducted after model adequacy checking on the linearity, normality, homoscedasticity, independence of the error term, no multicollinearity, and the absence of an outlier in multiple linear regression fulfilling through five iterations of outlier removal. The F-test revealed a relationship exists between meteorological factors and the concentration of PM2.5. The results indicate a moderate positive relationship between meteorological factors and the concentration of PM2.5, with only 38% of the total variation in the concentration of PM2.5 explained by these factors. In the t-test, all meteorological variables were found to significantly influence the concentration of PM2.5, and the final model, containing all factors, was identified as the best-fitting model supported with the lowest AIC and BIC values. This study contributed to better insight into forecasting the quality of the air in tropical urban environments, addressing a research gap in Bandaraya Melaka. These findings are essential for designing effective air quality management strategies, protecting public health, and supporting urban development.