FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

LAND CONTAMINATION AND POLLUTION

SST5801

Do we have acid rain in Malaysia?

PROF. DATIN DR. ROSENANI BINTI ABU BAKAR

by
MOHAMED MOSHINAH ABAID
GS54394
What is acid rain?
First detected in 1853 and coined ‘acid rain’ in 1872, it is defined as “precipitation in the form of
rain, hail, sleet, snow, dew or fog that transports sulphur and nitrogen compounds from the high
atmosphere to ground level”. Industrial operations, which burn fossil fuels to generate electricity,
together with oil and gas refineries, domestic chimneys, volcanic eruptions and combustion exhausts
from vehicles all release sulphur, nitrogen and carbon gases into the atmosphere. These, in turn,
combine with water droplets to create sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide which,
through the process of precipitation, are transferred to our soils, buildings, lakes and oceans.

Is there acid rain in Malaysia?

Malaysia is one of the areas that are beginning to experience the effects of acid rain. The areas most
seriously affected by acid rain are Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kedah and Selangor, while a four-fold
increase in the rain acidity in Petaling Jaya and Senai was observed from 1985–1988. In Malaysia
from 1985–1992, the mean pH values ranged from 5.0–5.7 in the sites not close to industrial areas,
and from 4.3–5.0 close to industrial and densely populated areas (Ayers et al., 2000). Zabawi et al.
(2008) also showed that rain acidity was showing an upward trend, particularly in the Kuala Lumpur,
Klang Valley, Pulau Pinang, Perai and Johor Bahru, and the Senai areas (Zabawi et al., 2008). It was
further shown by Ayers et al. (2000) that the annual pH value of rain at Johor Bahru, Klang Valley and
Kuala Lumpur is in the range of 4.16–4.40. Climate conditions in Malaysia are characterized by high
humidity and particularly abundant rainfall, with annual rainfall intensity over 2400 mm. In addition,
chemical weathering regularly occurs. Thus, this study aims to determine the effects of acid rain on
the physico-chemical and engineering behaviour of two common types of soil in these areas; namely
sedimentary residual soil and igneous residual soil.
References

• G. Ayers, L.C. Peng, L.S. Fook, C.W. Kong, R. Gillett, P. Manins

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition of oxidised sulfur and nitrogen species at Petaling Jaya,
Malaysia, 1993–1998

Tellus B, 52 (2000), p. 1

• A.M. Zabawi, S.M. Esa, C. Leong

Effects of simulated acid rain on germination and growth of rice plant

J. Trop. Agric. Fd. Sc., 36 (2) (2008)