Air pollution in Malaysia: current understanding and future directions
Amaechi O Azi1,2, Hwee S Lim3, Emmanuel Yohanna4,5
1School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Penang, Malaysia. aziamaechi@gmail.com.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Air pollution in Malaysia, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exceeds WHO guidelines, causing thousands of premature deaths and significant economic losses annually. Addressing this requires integrated strategies focusing on pollution sources and health impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Environmental Economics
Background:
- Air pollution is a critical environmental and public health challenge in Malaysia, impacting the economy and climate.
- Existing monitoring systems and regulations lack comprehensive assessments integrating multiple data sources and health impact analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an integrated assessment of air quality in Malaysia, analyzing trends, health impacts, and economic costs.
- To identify major pollution sources and haze events and propose evidence-based solutions.
Main Methods:
- Review of peer-reviewed studies, haze event records (1983-2024), regulatory documents, and air quality monitoring data.
- Analysis of Air Pollutant Index (API) and PM2.5 trends (2013-2024) using exposure-response models.
- Utilized satellite data (MODIS, AERONET) for spatial variation and cross-border pollution analysis.
Main Results:
- Average PM2.5 levels (8.66-16.77 µg/m³) consistently exceeded WHO guidelines from 2021.
- PM2.5 exposure in 2020 was linked to 1,419 early deaths and MYR 2.46 billion (USD 524 million) in economic costs.
- Identified 12 major haze events, with pollution rebounding after temporary COVID-19 reductions.
Conclusions:
- Malaysia's air quality issues stem from transport, industry, dust, and transboundary haze, with greater impact in urban areas.
- Effective solutions require improved source tracking, enhanced monitoring, integrated health data, advanced technologies, and policy alignment with WHO standards.
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