PM(10) Composition of the Air Quality at the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of PM(10) and air composition in the vicinity of the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve within the city of Kuala Lumpur. Sampling of PM(10) was conducted using a High Volume Sampler (HVS) with a flow rate of 1.13 m(3) air min(-1) for a total period of 24 h. The composition of PM(10) analyzed constituted anions (SO(2(4(-, NO(3-), Cl(-)), cations (K(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), NH(+(4)) and heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn). The concentrations of SO(2(4(-, NO(3-) and NH(+(4) ions were determined using the HACH spectrophotometer, whilst Cl(-) ions were measured using the argentometric method. The total mean concentration of PM(10) for the three sampling stations was 13.44c7.12 kg m(-3)(station 1), 17.91c4.56 kg m(-3)(station 2) and 20.23c4.34 kg m(-3)(station 3), compared to 4.27c1.67 kg m(-3) recorded at the non-urban Bangi Forest Reserve. The highest mean concentration of anions and cations for the three stations was for SO(2(4(- ions, followed by Cl(-), NO(3-), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), NH(+(4) and Ca(2+). For heavy metals, Fe recorded the highest value, followed by Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mg, Mn and Cd. Air quality within the vicinity of the study area for the sub-index of PM(10) was found to be good, with the highest API value recorded during the study period being 14 at station 3.