Ground-level ozone (O3) is mainly produced during daytime in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light and later destroyed by nitrogen oxides during nighttime. However, light pollution caused by the excessive use of artificial lights may disrupt the chemistry of night-time ground-level O3 by providing enough energy to initiate nighttime ground-level O3 production. In this study, nighttime (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) ground-level O3, nitrogen oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxides (NO2) concentrations were observed for three years (2013, 2014, and 2015). The existence of O3 was found during nighttime, especially in urban areas with a concentration range of 8–20 ppb. The results suggested that nighttime variations of ground-level O3 concentrations were higher in urban areas than in suburban areas. The mean nighttime O3 concentration at urban sites varied, possibly because the distribution of anthropogenic lights around the urban sites is brighter than in suburban locations, as indicated by the data from the light-pollution map. This anthropogenic light has not caused the suspected nighttime photolysis processes, which directly slowed nighttime oxidation. The photochemistry rate of JNO2/k3 was supposed to be near zero because of the absence of photochemical reactions at night. However, the minimum concentration in all urban and suburban sites ranged from 2–3 ppb, indicating that O3 might also form at night, albeit not due to light pollution.
1 January 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a preemptive tool used by engineers, environmental consultants and planners to avoid the most likely adverse consequences of development projects. As a planning tool, EIA should curb the harmful effects from all stages of a project lifecycle. Landslides and flash floods are the most common problems faced by Malaysians almost yearly due to rapid development, especially that involving modification of watercourses, clearing of land and projects on hill slopes. Despite such issues, existing legislation and new guidelines have been enacted by the Malaysian government and must be followed by any proposing project team before starting development projects. The Department may have accepted an EIA report of the project. Still, several developments may have neglected the guidelines, especially during construction involving earthworks and exposure of the surrounding environment, place and people to a high risk of disaster caused by mishaps and accidents. The incidence of landslides and flash floods as reported in newspapers, journals, reports and books since 1919 is explored in this study to determine the details of the losses and locations. Despite the enactment of the new EIA law, landslides and flash floods continue to occur. This situation justifies the need to revise the approach based on sizes and include other factors, namely, the risk indices for disaster to happen and the effectiveness of EIA in reducing disaster risks in projects.
30 June 2021 in Journal of Sustainability Science and Management