MAPUA UNIVERSITY

School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering

A Case Study on Toxic Waste

Pollution in Kim Kim River, Pasir
Gudang, Johor, Malaysia

SUBMITTED BY:
ABRAJANO, KAYELA P. 2014108611
CAPULE, KELVIN CARLO Q. 2014151813
ISCALA, CAMILLE JUSTINE A. 2014100826
PESIGAN, YURICE WINAYA D. 20141071020

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. BONIFACIO B. MAGTIBAY

DATE SUBMITTED:
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background Information (Population, geography, economy) ……………………….. 1

II. Plants, animals, ecosystems ………………………………………………………….. 2

III. Status of specific environmental pollution …………………………………………… 4

IV. Impact of such pollution to the environment and human beings ……………………... 5
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
(Population, geography, economy)

Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru is a city found in Johor, Malaysia. It is located 1.47 latitude
and 103.88 longitude and it is situated at elevation 10 meters above sea level. Kampung Pasir
Gudang Baru has a population of 145,639 making it the 5th biggest city in Johor. It operates on
the JST time zone, which means that it follows the same time zone as Johor Bahru.
Pasir Gudang is an industrial town. Its main industries are transportation and logistics,
shipbuilding, petrochemicals and other heavy industries, and oil palm storage and distribution,
which is located in Johor Port and Tanjung Langsat.
Kim Kim River, which is located at Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia had occurred an
incident of water pollution on 7 March 2019 caused by illegal chemical waste dumping at the Kim
Kim River. The illegal dumping released toxic fumes, affecting 6,000 people and hospitalising
2,775. Most of the victims were school students—110 schools were subsequently closed along the
river.
The incident started after several students and canteen workers from two schools near the
river began to fall ill and complaining of breathing difficulties. Both schools were ordered to shut
down and all the victims were sent to Sultan Ismail Hospital while investigations being carried out
by state health authorities over the cause. Twenty-one people are warded at the hospital with some
being admitted into the emergency unit and intensive care unit (ICU). Some of the students brought
at the hospital were already fainted and with symptoms such as vomiting while those who were
not seriously affected were given outpatient treatment and allowed to return home. While
recovering, some of the seriously affected victims shared their experiences of suddenly being ill
after inhaling unpleasant odour in their school compound environment.

On 11 March, the second wave of air poisoning took effect. The spread of the toxic fumes
is aid by hot weather combined with strong wind that make more people to become sick. The
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid explained
that the further spread of toxic fumes might not have re-emerged if the illegally dumped chemicals
found early were immediately removed since the authorities did not dispose the chemicals after
concluding it is no longer reactive, allegedly due to the costs involved. On 20 June, a number of
students from schools in the Pasir Gudang area began complaining of nausea, dizziness and
experienced vomiting which eventually led to the temporary closure of the schools in the area. The
authorities later confirmed it as the third wave of air poisoning resulted from the river pollution
which are not fully cleared.

In August, residents in Acheh's Well Village who living near the Daing and Kopok rivers
which is a tributaries to the Kim Kim River complaining that the waters in both rivers have turned
black and oily with unbearable foul stench which are believed to have spread from the chemical
pollution of the Kim Kim River.

The 1.5 km stretch of the river was contaminated with several chemicals which have been
ascertained from the samples taken. These chemicals include benzene, acrolein, acrylonitrile,
hydrogen chloride, methane, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and d-limonene.

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 PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND ECOSYSTEM

Malaysia is a megadiverse country. On land, the natural ecosystems consist of an immense

variety of wild plants and animals including dipterocarp forests and montane forests, while the
coastal and marine areas house important ecosystems such as mangrove forests and coral reefs.
These natural ecosystems contain a diverse array of floral and faunal communities.
Malaysia’s forests and seas are among the most diverse on the planet. The variety of
ecosystems and abundance of species constitute an extraordinary capital that maintains the natural
environment and the life-support systems that give us food, water and numerous economic
benefits. We depend on it for our very existence and to meet our goals for sustainable economic
development. Biodiversity is also held by many to have intrinsic religious and spiritual values and
as being an important element in our well-being
There are an estimated 15,000 species of vascular plants in Malaysia, with about 8,300
species in Peninsular Malaysia and about 12,000 in Sabah and Sarawak. Fauna diversity includes
307 known species of mammals, 30 of which are endemic to Malaysia, 785 species of birds, 242
species of amphibians and 567 species of reptiles, as well as 2,068 species of freshwater and marine
fishes. The rich biodiversity constitutes an extraordinary natural capital that maintains our natural
environment and the life-support systems that give us food, water and numerous economic
benefits. We depend on it for our very existence.
Malaysia retains a forest cover of about 54.5% of the total land area. Pristine forests of all
kinds occur in many of our protected areas. The lowland dipterocarp forests, with their complex
structure in which lofty trees provide a framework within which smaller trees and other plants
grow, along with a wide range of animals and other life-forms, are very rich in biodiversity. Even
small areas are richer in tree species than most similar-sized areas in tropical Africa or America.
Freshwater swamps and peatlands are important habitats for a variety of plants and animals.
Malaysia has some of the most extensive tropical peatlands in the world, covering some 2.4 million
had, mainly consisting of peat swamp forest, a vulnerable category of wetland characterized by
deep layers of peat soil and waters so acidic that many of the plants and animals found in them do
not occur in the other tropical forests. Peatlands play a critical role in preserving water supply,
regulating and reducing flood damage, providing fish, timber, and other resources for local
communities, and storing large amounts of carbon within peat.
The jungles of Johor host a diverse array of plant and animal species, with an estimated
950 vertebrates species, comprising 200 mammals, 600 birds and 150 reptiles, along with
2,080 invertebrates species. Some iconic mammal species in Johar includes the Asian
elephant, clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, Malayan tapir and Malayan tiger.
Malaysia’s natural habitats harbour a diverse array of floral communities, greatly enriched by
their spread between two floristic regions of Johor. To date, there are an estimated 15,000 species
of vascular plants in Malaysia, with about 8,300 species in Peninsular Malaysia, and about 12,000
in Sabah and Sarawak.
Malaysia is extremely rich in palms, with more than 400 species, 70% of which are endemic
to the country. Although the floral diversity of Peninsular Malaysia is better documented than that

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of Sabah and Sarawak, the flora in the Bornean states is generally richer than that in Peninsular
Malaysia. Malaysia also boasts a diverse faunal community.
There are 307 known species of mammals in Malaysia, including at least 30 that are endemic
to Malaysia, the majority of which are found in lowland habitats. In terms of bird diversity, 785
species of birds have been recorded, while records show 242 species of amphibians and 567 species
of reptiles that are unequally distributed across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, with new
discoveries being consistently added to the growing inventory.
The fish diversity is also impressive – a total of 2,068 species of freshwater and marine fishes
belonging to 704 genera and 186 families have been recorded. Of these, 470 species are found in
freshwater habitats, 81 in brackish water and 1,400 in marine habitats.
Coral reefs are the richest habitat with 925 species of fish recorded therein. 27 species of
marine mammals including the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin,
Irrawaddy dolphin, Bryde’s whale, and the dugong are also known to occur in the Malaysian
waters. Furthermore, four species of marine turtles are known to land in Malaysia: the Green,
Hawksbill, Olive ridley and Leatherback turtles.
A resident interviewed on the issue said the Kim-Kim river was once home to
various crabs, freshwater fish and shrimps with children used to swim in the waters but everything
has been damaged since the pollution turned worse in April.

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 STATUS OF TOXIC POLLUTION

The airborne pollution that has affected dozens of students in Johor's Pasir Gudang district
were caused by leftover chemical waste in Sungai Kim Kim that was supposed to have been
cleaned up three months ago, Malaysia's Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida
Kamaruddin said.
The gases are believed to have been caused by the illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into
into the Sungai Kim Kim river by factories in the industrial estate.
Some 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste was dumped into the Sungai Kim Kim river under a
bridge in Kota Masai, The Star reported. The chemicals, which were used to dissolve metal, are
believed to contain traces of heavy metals.
Another claim that, “The waste from the river clean-up was collected and disposed of,
while the rest was buried under tonnes of soil. And now, it has resurfaced in the form of vapours,
which polluted the air and affected residents.” According to the residents that had conducted their
own investigation by visiting affected areas and speaking to those working in the industrial plants.
Department of Environment (DoE) will said to investigate claims that industrial plants
around Pasir Gudang may have buried their waste to avoid high disposal charges. However, their
problem is they do not where the exact location of dumpsites are.
The chemicals washed downstream and polluted the air with toxic gas. Residents and
students in two schools located in the Paris Gudang area started vomiting and fainting after
breathing in the strong smell from the river, The Star said.
The Malaysian Armed Forces dispatched medics and two teams with expertise in chemical
and radioactive waste to help with cleanup efforts, Bernama said in a report on March 14. They
join a list of government agencies on the scene, including the police, the Hazardous Materials
Management (Hazmat) Team and the National Disaster Management Agency.
March 20, Mr Mohammad Ezzani Mat Salleh from the local environment ministry and his
team discovered traces of toxic oil waste commonly used in "marine engine compressors". Fire
and rescue officials also identified at least 15 different types of chemicals - which included the
colorless and extremely poisonous hydrogen cyanide. Direct exposure to these hazardous fumes is
extremely harmful. And the effects were harsh and swift.
Additionally, Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister
Yeo Bee Yin said that results from the samples sent to the Chemistry Department shows they
contain organic solvents such as delaminate.
"This is used in tyre pyrolysis," Yeo said in this in the Parliament today, explaining that
pyrolysis is a method for recycling old tyres by heating up whole or shredded tyres in a reactor
vessel, according to a report in The Malaysian Insight.
Whether the toxic chemical wastes are directly dumped in the river or buried around the
affected site, it is still visible that improper disposal of toxic wastes really bring worst effects in
the environment and the human beings around the area.

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 IMPACTS OF TOXIC WASTE
Toxic waste is the potentially dangerous byproduct of a wide range of activities, including
manufacturing, farming, water treatment systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories,
hospitals, and other industries. The waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals,
heavy metals, radiation, pathogens, or other materials. It carries environmental risks and also
health risks for humans and wildlife. Hazardous waste is primarily generated by industry and
businesses.
Impacts on human
 Cancer
Cancer has also been linked to air pollution from industry as well as in the home.
Most if the chemicals used in industries are carcinogenic.
 Respiratory Conditions
A direct link exists between air pollution and respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Exposure to hazardous waste from emissions irritates the mucous membranes of your
mouth and throat. A 2008 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of
Sciences found that individuals merely living near a hazardous waste site had an increased
risk of developing respiratory diseases.
 Heart Disease
The risks of living near hazardous waste sites do not stop with increased risk for
respiratory disease. A 2004 study published in the Archives of Environmental Health found
an elevated risk of the development of congenital heart disease in the offspring of pregnant
women living within one mile of a hazardous waste site.
 Exposure Aftermath
The health effects from some types of hazardous waste may be temporary, with no
link to other conditions having been determined. A person may also experience stomach
discomfort. At high levels, xylene may cause unconsciousness and even death.
Impacts on Environment
 Water Pollution
The chemicals were illegally dumped into Johor River causing water pollution to the
area. The pollution has affected 400 fishermen around had also received the backlash of the
pollution because people were afraid to buy their catch.
 Air Pollution
Air pollutions occurs when the chemicals evaporated from the river causing 5,848
people to seek medical treatment after inhaling toxic fumes from the river.
 Soil Pollution
In Toxic Pollution contamination of soil is included. It is a long-term effect of pollution since
the chemicals seep into the soil. This type of pollution is unnoticeable.

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 ANALYSIS ON THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALS AND SPECIFIC
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ADDRESSING TOXIC WASTE POLLUTION

Due to the adverse effects of the toxic pollution in the area, the government decided to
establish a National Scheduled Toxic Waste Management Committee. The role of professionals
that will be part of this committee is to draft standard operating procedures for chemical pollution
disasters. According to the Department of Environment director-general, Ahmad Kamarulnajuib
Che Ibrahim, the scope and duties of the new committee were being drafted before being proposed
to the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change ministry for approval.
Other professionals that are involved in this issue are school counsellors in collaboration
with the Welfare Department and Sultanah Aminah Hospital’s Psychiatric Unit. Their role is to
assist those who were traumatized by the incident. They play an important role because victims of
the pollution like schoolchildren, teachers and school staff were distressed and they need the help
of these professionals to go back to their normal lives.
Primary health care providers should be knowledgeable about the exposure history process.
The single most important aspect of the approach to patients with potential occupational or
environmental disease is to have a high index of suspicion and to follow through on that suspicion
Although many clinicians recognize the importance of taking a work and exposure history to
evaluate certain problems, most have had little training or practice in doing so.
If necessary, consultation with other health professionals such as industrial hygienists or
occupational health nurses may facilitate the gathering of useful information concerning
exposures. Industrial hygienists, who are often employed by state health departments or industry,
are a source of information to the clinician investigating a possible toxic exposure. Industrial
hygiene is the discipline devoted to the recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace-related
factors or stresses that may cause illness, impaired health or well-being, or significant discomfort
and inefficiency among workers or community members. They can be helpful in assessing whether
a significant exposure has occurred.
Medical specialists, such as board certified clinicians specializing in occupational and
environmental medicine or medical toxicology can assist the primary health care provider in the
evaluation and management of patients exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances.
In addition to current exposures, the clinician must consider the long-term or latent effects of past
exposures to agents such as asbestos, radiation, and chemical carcinogens.
Environmental engineers play crucial roles in reducing the amount of hazardous substances
produced, treating hazardous wastes to reduce their toxicity, and applying sound engineering
controls to reduce or eliminate exposures to these wastes. These are among the most important
challenges of our times. Engineers design the facilities that generate the chemicals that, under the
wrong circumstances, become hazards. The engineers also design and operate the containment and
treatment facilities to deal with the wastes after they have been released, and are frequently called
upon to address these wastes once they are in the environment.

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 Malaysia is one of the very environmentally rich countries in the world. At present, her
traditions and heritage have been facing with numerous environmental problems such as air
pollution, water pollution, exploitation of natural resources etc. In order to cope with the
environmental problems, the Government of Malaysia has passed some important environmental
laws and policies such as the Environment Quality Act 1974 and its Regulations 1989, the
Environmental Quality Order 1989, the Protection of Wildlife Act, the National Forestry Act 1984,
the Fisheries Act 1985, the National Parks Act 1980, the International Environmental Laws etc.
In addition to that, the Civil Law Act 1972, the Principles of the English Laws, the Federal
Law, Shariah Laws, the Adat Temenggung (Malay Customary Laws) with some international
environmental obligations etc; have also been implemented in order to attain sustainable
environment and development in the country. But it regrets that these laws and policies have not
been properly implemented due to some problems such as non -coordination, weak enforcement,
customary attitudes etc.
The Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste dumping was a wake-up call for strong reinforcement of
these environmental laws. Environmental Quality Act 1974 was reviewed to make people pay for
polluting the environment.
Environmental Quality Act 1974 is an act that makes provision for the prevention,
abatement, control of pollution and enhancement of the environment. It is divided into the
following Parts: Preliminary (I); Administration (II); Licences (III); Prohibition and Control of
Pollution (IV); Appeal and Appeal Board (V); Miscellaneous (VI). Powers and functions relevant
to the protection of the environment are shared by the Director General of Environmental Quality
and the Minister charged with the responsibility for environment protection.
The case under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 was investigated which
provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 and imprisonment of not more than five years. DOE
investigators identified the illegally dumped chemical as marine oil that emitted flammable
methane and benzene fumes. The oil is a scheduled waste and needs proper disposal due to its
hazardous nature. Following investigations, the owner of a chemical factory in Kulai was arrested
followed by the arrest of the owner and a worker of a shredded waste factory in Taman Pasir Puteh
in Pasir Gudang.

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References
o https://bizfluent.com/list-5978867-health-effects-hazardous-waste.html
o https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/17/chemical-waste-pollution-in-sg-kim-kim-
affects-livelihood-of-fishermen
o https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pasir-gudang-pollution-caused-by-leftover-
toxic-waste-from-sungai-kim-kim-minister-says
o https://www.businessinsider.my/johor-has-closed-111-schools-over-toxic-gases-from-a-
polluted-river-heres-the-full-timeline-of-what-happened/
o https://www.businessinsider.my/johor-gas-poisoning-victims-now-at-2775-but-pm-
mahathir-says-the-situation-is-under-control/
o https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/07/501647/kim-kim-clean-not-done-properly
o https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/my/my-nbsap-v2-en.pdf
o http://www.kats.gov.my/msmy/PustakaMedia/Penerbitan/Biodiversity%20in%20Malaysi
a.pdf
o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Kim_Kim_River_toxic_pollution
o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasir_Gudang
o https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pasir-gudang-chemical-spill-facts-about-the-9-
chemicals-found-and-their-health-impact
o https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/03/31/national-scheduled-
toxic-waste-management-committee-to-be-set-up/
o https://www.accessscience.com/content/hazardous-waste-engineering/803310
o https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=33&po=5
o https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/03/12/johor-doe-completes-probe-on-
sungai-kim-kim-pollution/1731908

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