13/07/2025

NATIONAL 4 theSun on Sunday JULY 13, 2025

Nitrogen-based pollutants affecting health of M’sians

Children get chance to fly drones KUALA TERENGGANU: Flying a drone may be out of reach for many children, but at a Madani Rakyat event in Terengganu, they were given the chance to take the controls for the first time in the Drone JuniorSkills competition. Despite having no prior experience in flying drones, Ammar Rayyan Nur Fahrurozi, 12, from SK Sultan Sulaiman 1 in Kuala Terengganu was thrilled to participate in the competition as he dreams of becoming a professional drone pilot one day. Ammar Rayyan said usually, he only participated in drone-related quizzes at school, but this was his first time handling the real craft. “I want to learn how to capture videos with drones because I’ve seen people shoot beautiful, cinematic footage while on holiday. “Flying a drone is quite challenging. It’s hard to control the speed and balance when it turns. Still, with practice, I think I can be good at it,” he said on Friday. Another participant, Wan Azza Nathifa Wan Nor Azam, 11, from SK Padang Hiliran in Kuala Terengganu, said the competition was a golden opportunity, although she felt nervous when first given the task. “The organiser said I had to complete get past obstacles in under two minutes. At first, it seemed impossible, but once I tried it, it was actually fun.” Wan Azza Nathifa said her interest in drones began about a year ago when her father bought one for the family to play with at home. “I’ve always liked high-tech stuff. At school, I regularly take part in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programmes.” Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training Automotive and Drone Technology Unit head Zuraidy Shamsudin said the competition was organised to provide exposure to students on drone technology and help them understand the basics. – Bernama We suspect they were dumped into Sungai Kinta, and did not die due to pollution (in the river). “Water quality test results carried out by the Environment Department showed readings within a good range, with no signs of pollution that could have caused the sudden death of aquatic life.” Perak Fisheries Department director Mohd Ghazali Manap said immediate action had been taken to remove all the dead fish from the affected area. – Bernama

Studies in Klang Valley show higher rates of asthma, poor lung function and genetic damage among children who attend schools near busy roads Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com Rudiaswady Abdul Rahim.

“Nitrogen dioxide levels spike during traffic jams and along major roads, worsening air quality and making it harder for people to breathe.” He said the country’s air quality monitoring still has major blind spots. “Many smaller towns and rural areas are not properly covered, and we are not tracking other harmful nitrogen compounds such as ammonia. Pollution peaks during rush hour could be slipping under the radar.” He called for better tools, including satellite data and advanced modelling, to track nitrogen pollution more accurately. “We need to monitor all nitrogen-based gases, not just a few, and this data should be made public.” Malaysia currently tracks air quality through 65 monitoring stations nationwide, feeding data into the Air Pollutant Index and to global bodies such as the World Meteorological Organisation. Both experts agree that monitoring alone is not enough. “We must link this data to real health policies. That means banning engine idling near schools and expanding green spaces in our cities,” said Juliana. Rudiaswady recommends introducing air pollution education in schools, launching community-based projects and using mobile apps to show how emissions from vehicles, farms and waste systems affect air,

PETALING JAYA: Nitrogen based pollutants in the city air are silently damaging the health of Malaysians, especially the lungs of children and even altering their DNA. The harm goes far deeper than a cough or wheeze, said Universiti Putra Malaysia environmental health expert Professor Dr Juliana Jalaludin. “Studies in the Klang Valley show higher rates of asthma, poor lung function and genetic damage among children who attend schools near busy roads,” she told theSun A 2024 study in Kuala Lumpur found that fine dust particles are a major threat to children’s lung health. Other research in Kajang and across the Klang Valley links nitrogen dioxide, coarse dust, carbon monoxide and toxic fumes from household and industrial products to asthma, reduced lung capacity and cellular-level harm. “The damage starts early and can last a lifetime. It’s not just about breathing problems. This is about long term health and development,” said Juliana. Across Malaysia’s major cities Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru and Penang, residents are exposed daily to nitrogen oxide from traffic and industrial activity. “These gases make up a large part of urban air pollution,” said Malaysian Association of Environmental Health honourary secretary

the food we eat and the water we drink. It harms our health and contributes to climate change through nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.”

water and food. Juliana added that nitrogen pollution is more than an environmental issue. “It’s in the air we breathe,

Fifty-two tonnes of invasive ikan bandaraya caught IPOH: Skuad Pemburu Ikan Asing Malaysia, an invasive fish hunting group, has caught 52 tonnes of ikan bandaraya across Peninsular Malaysia since its inception in 2022. posing serious threats to native aquatic species and disrupting the ecosystem. “To date, we have not extended our fish-catching efforts to the East Coast states,” he said at the Grand Prix Invasive Fish Hunting Programme

Pollution ruled out as cause of black tilapia deaths

Mohamad Haziq said despite consistent efforts over the past two years, the population of the species remains alarmingly high in many major rivers. Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim reminded the public that the State Fisheries Department must approve the release of freshwater fish into public waterways. He said such measures are necessary to avoid ecological disruption and protect communities, particularly local fisheries and eco-tourism operators. – Bernama

IPOH: Thousands of dead black tilapia fish found in Sungai Kinta on June 30 are believed to have been dumped into the river by irresponsible parties. Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said an investigation conducted by the Environment Department and the state Fisheries Department found that the fish most likely came from a fish farm. “The dead fish appeared uniform and were not river fish.

Its founder Mohamad Haziq A. Rahman said of the total, about 30 tonnes were caught in the Klang Valley, particularly in Selangor, while the remaining 22 tonnes were from other states, including Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Malacca, Penang and Kedah. “This data confirms that ikan bandaraya is one of the dominant invasive species in our rivers,

organised by the Perak Fisheries Department at Taman Dr Seevinisagam yesterday. The organisation is founded by anglers and inland fishermen operating voluntarily to control the spread of foreign species. The group now has more than 1,000 active members across the peninsular.