Sistem Pemantauan PM2.5 dan SO2 serta Analisis Dampak Hujan Asam terhadap pH Tanah di Sekitar PLTU Pangkalan Susu Terintegrasi Internet of Things (IoT)

Abstract

Air pollution caused by sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) had the potential to cause acid rain, which affected soil quality, particularly soil pH. This study aimed to design and develop a microcontroller-based air quality monitoring system integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor PM2.5 and SO₂ concentrations as well as soil pH in real-time around the Pangkalan Susu coal-fired power plant (PLTU). The system utilized GP2Y1010AU0F, MQ-136, and soil pH sensors, with data visualized through the Blynk platform. A 14-day monitoring period was conducted, and the results showed that PM2.5 and SO₂ levels in Tanjung Pasir were significantly higher than in Lubuk Kasih, with PM2.5 peaking at 176.55 µg/m³ and SO₂ at 4 ppm. This resulted in a decrease in soil pH in Tanjung Pasir to an average of < 5.8, while Lubuk Kasih remained stable above 6.5. Pearson correlation tests indicated a strong and significant negative relationship between PM2.5, SO₂, and soil pH in Tanjung Pasir (r = –0.750 and –0.798; p < 0.01). This study demonstrated that the designed system was capable of detecting acid rain potential and its impact on soil, and showed potential for long-term environmental monitoring applications.