Inconsistency of air quality level during several phases of COVID-19 movement restrictions in Malaysia

Samsuri Abdullah, . and Nor Hanan Syafiqah Che Rozali, . and Amalina Abu Mansor, . and Aimi Nursyahirah Ahmad, . and Ali Najah Ahmed, . and Nazri Che Dom, . and Mohammad Fakhratul Ridwan Zulkifli, . and Suriani Mat Jusoh, . and Wan Nurdiyana Wan Mansor, . and Marzuki Ismail, . (2023) Inconsistency of air quality level during several phases of COVID-19 movement restrictions in Malaysia. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management (Malaysia), 18 (11). pp. 148-163. ISSN 2672-7226

Analysing the air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to evaluate air quality management strategies and plans. This study aims to assess the air quality changes during Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia by investigating air pollutants trends and evaluating the relative changes of air pollutant during different Movement Control Order (MCO) phases. Data from 18 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 was acquired which comprised Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Ozone (O₃), and Particulate Matter (PM₂ ̣ ₅, PM₁₀) this was checked on an hourly basis at 65 stations in Malaysia. The data were retrieved from the Department of Environment (DOE). The trend of air pollutants for all parameters decreased during the restricted lockdown phases and increased during the unrestricted lockdown phases. During strict lockdown, the average relative changes for the highest percentage reduction of PM₁₀, PM₂ ̣ ₅, SO₂,NO₂, O₃, and CO were 61.5%, 63.2%, 51.9%, 35.0%, 66.9%, and 47.3% while highest percentage reduction during unrestricted lockdown with value 23.1%, 29.3%, 38.7%, 9.1%, 56.6%, and 29.4%. In conclusion, there are variations in the levels of criteria pollutants during the different MCOs in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic

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Abstract

Analysing the air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to evaluate air quality management strategies and plans. This study aims to assess the air quality changes during Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia by investigating air pollutants trends and evaluating the relative changes of air pollutant during different Movement Control Order (MCO) phases. Data from 18 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 was acquired which comprised Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Ozone (O₃), and Particulate Matter (PM₂ ̣ ₅, PM₁₀) this was checked on an hourly basis at 65 stations in Malaysia. The data were retrieved from the Department of Environment (DOE). The trend of air pollutants for all parameters decreased during the restricted lockdown phases and increased during the unrestricted lockdown phases. During strict lockdown, the average relative changes for the highest percentage reduction of PM₁₀, PM₂ ̣ ₅, SO₂,NO₂, O₃, and CO were 61.5%, 63.2%, 51.9%, 35.0%, 66.9%, and 47.3% while highest percentage reduction during unrestricted lockdown with value 23.1%, 29.3%, 38.7%, 9.1%, 56.6%, and 29.4%. In conclusion, there are variations in the levels of criteria pollutants during the different MCOs in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	environmental impact assessment
AGROVOC Term:	air quality
AGROVOC Term:	COVID-19
AGROVOC Term:	air pollution
AGROVOC Term:	gases
AGROVOC Term:	emission reduction
AGROVOC Term:	monitoring systems
AGROVOC Term:	government agencies
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Relative changes
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	24 Oct 2025 10:13
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2025 10:13
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2162

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