2.1 Data Collection

2.0 METHODOLOGY

On 17 July 2019, the first meeting of the ASM Task Force was held to determine the course of action. Stakeholders and experts in the relevant fields were identified and invited to contribute data and share their initial findings up to that point of time. Data requests were also made to the relevant agencies such as Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), JAS, JKKP, MPPG, JPS and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). In the course of this study, the members of the Task Force gathered four times to discuss the progress.

2.1

2.1.1 DATA COLLECTION

Toxic Gas Concentration Data

The following data were obtained from JAS Negeri Johor: • Concentrations data of the three toxic gases that were recorded using Gasmet DX4030 at 42 schools from 17 - 18 March 2019 • Concentrations data of VOCs that were recorded using the MultiRAE Detector at 111 schools from 4 - 14 July 2019 • The air pollution data, which also include benzene and meteorological data from JAS’ continuous monitoring station/mobile station (station ID: CA34J) from January 2018 to the present

The concentrations data by MultiRAE and Gasmet are merged with the meteorology data using their timestamps.

2.1.2 Epidemiological Data of Toxic Gas Incidents

The following epidemiological data on the Sungai Kim Kim and Pasir Gudang incidents were obtained from Dr Thilaka Chinnayah, Chief for Unit Kesihatan Pekerjaan dan Alam Sekitar, Bahagian Kesihatan Awam, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Johor: • Chronology of events of toxic gas poisoning • Number of reported cases according to age, ethnicity, gender, employment, symptoms and medical treatment • Name and location of affected schools • Name and location of affected residential areas • Time series epidemiological curves of toxic poisoning cases