Relationship between population and PM2.5 in Southern Region of Peninsular Malaysia / Safiah Mohd Zaher

Air pollution, particularly the presence of fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5), poses a significant threat to public health globally. Inhalation of PM2.5 particles can lead to severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues, making it imperative to assess the extent of the population exposed to this pollutant. The aim of this study is to assess the population's exposure to PM2.5 in the Southern Region of Peninsular Malaysia during the years 2018 and 2021 using GIS approach. The concentration of PM2.5 was mapped using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method in the QGIS platform to identify the area of high concentration of air pollutant in the Southern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. The results show that Nilai had the highest PM2.5 concentration (above 23.74 μg/m³), while Kota Tinggi and Pengerang had the lowest (14.97 μg/m³) in 2018. Moreover, in 2021, Nilai and Bukit Rambai still showed high concentrations, with Kota Tinggi, Pengerang, and Kluang recording the lowest levels (below 11.93 μg/m³). Nilai consistently had high PM2.5 concentrations. In addition, the findings indicate a positive correlation between population and PM2.5, suggesting that as population increases, PM2.5 concentration tends to increase. However, the correlation is relatively weak, with R-squared values below 0.2 for both years. The findings of this study will help to understand the sources and distribution of PM2.5 pollution as well as provide information on the concentration of air pollution in the Southern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, this study's outcomes will hold significant importance for policymaking and sustainable development such as policy recommendation.