INSTANT HAZE PROTECTOR

Haze is an atmospheric condition where particles, smoke, dust and moisture suspend in the air obscuring visibility.

Sources of haze include emissions from power plants, industrial activities, traffic as well as farming practices.

Forest fires in countries like the US, Australia and Europe during the hot and dry summer season are also a source of haze.

The current haze affecting Malaysia and Singapore poses a serious and recurring problem every year, particularly between May to October, due to the burning of forests in some countries to clear land.

n the 1997 Southeast Asian haze which affected a number of countries in the region, an increase in air pollutants from 50 to 150 μg/m3 is significantly associated with increases of 12% of upper respiratory tract illness, 19% asthma and 26% nasal inflammation.

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Depending on how sensitive you are, the severity of the haze and the time of exposure, you may experience the following short-term adverse effects:

• Irritated eyes, watering eyes, and/or conjunctivitis (a type of eye inflammation)
• Running nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and/or post-nasal drip
• Throat irritation, dry throat, sore throat and/or coughing
• Headache, dizziness, fatigue and/or stress
• Decreased lung function, depressed respiratory immune defenses, chest pain, and/or bronchitis (lung inflammation)

These symptoms are usually mild and will subside when you stay indoor and limit your exposure to haze.

However, in susceptible individuals and those suffering from chronic disease, especially respiratory and heart disease (e.g. coronary artery disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), their condition may be worsened by haze. They are more likely to experience more severe haze-related effects than healthy people.

Long-term effects

As much as 94% of the particles in a haze are below 2.5 micrometers in diameter, that is, particles that are 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Due to their small size, these ultra small particles stay in the air longer and are easily carried over long distances, increasing their chances of being inhaled by animals and humans.

Known as fine particles, particles emitted by forest fires are found to be toxic to the lungs, and are more toxic than particulate matter collected from ambient air from the same region. 

. Fine particles can also bypass normal body defence mechanisms and penetrate deep into the lungs due to their small size. When inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream and get absorbed by underlying tissue, potentially interacting with other compounds and substances in the body, for example ‘bad’ cholesterol, to produce damaging effects such as inflammation.

Below are some of the long-term risks associated with fine particles:

• In a large prospective cohort study of adults without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, individuals with higher exposure to fine particles (measured by PM2.5 readings) experience a faster rate of thickening of the arteries compared to others living within the same city . This implies that higher long-term PM2.5 exposures could promote the development of vascular disease.
• Long-term exposure to fine particles increases the risk of death by cardiovascular disease and reduces life expectancy by several months to a few years .
• Long-term exposure to PM2.5, that is, particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller, may contribute to the development of diabetes .
• Exposure to polluted air by expecting mothers has also been associated with spontaneous abortion, under-weight infants, birth defects and infant death .
• Considering the short-term effects fine particulate matter has on the respiratory system, it does not come as a surprise that a study said they can negatively impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function . Other studies also linked increased chronic exposures to PM2.5 to population sinusitis in adults  and respiratory illness in infants .

  How is Haze Monitored

  Haze is measured by the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI).
  It is an index developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to present daily air pollution levels in an easy to understand format. In the US, PSI is also known as the Air Quality Index.
  PSI monitors air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5).
  With the latest PSI value, you can get a general idea of the current air quality and the health effects associated with it as indicated in the table below: 

  Index Value	PSI Descriptor	General Health Effects	Health Advisory
  Up to 50	Good	Good	None for the general population
  51 to 100	Moderate	Few or none for the general population	None required
  101 to 200	Unhealthy	Mild aggravation of symptoms among susceptible persons ie. those with underlying conditions such as chronic heart or lung ailments; transient symptoms of irritation eg. eye irritation, sneezing or coughing in some of the healthy population.	Persons with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity. The general population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity. Appropriate public advisories regarding the use of respiratory masks and other health matters will be given.
  201 to 300	Very Unhealthy	Moderate aggravation of symptoms and decreased tolerance in persons with heart or lung disease ; more widespread symptoms of transient irritation in the healthy population.	Elderly and persons with existing heart or lung disease should stay indoors and reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity. The general population should avoid vigorous outdoor activity. Appropriate public advisories on air cleaning devices for homes and offices will be given.
  301 to 400	Hazardous	Early onset of certain diseases in addition to significant aggravation of symptoms in susceptible persons; and decreased exercise tolerance in healthy persons.	Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity. The general population should avoid all unnecessary outdoor activity.
  Over 400	Hazardous	PSI levels above 400 may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons. Healthy people may experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.	Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors, keeping the windows and doors closed and avoiding physical exertion as far as possible. Outdoor activity should be avoided. The general population should keep physical exertion and outdoor activity to as low a level as possible.

  Source: National Environment Agency, Singapore

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  How to Protect Yourself from Haze

  The main pollutants in a haze that have greater health impact are the fine particles that are 10 micron and smaller in size.
  Their effects depend very much on the severity of the haze and how long one has been exposed to them.
  During a prolonged haze period when the air quality is poor, take the following precautions to protect yourself:
• Pay attention to local air quality updates. Recommended precautions you should take will usually be given in the form of advisories based on the latest air condition. So it is recommended that you check your local health authority’s website regularly for the latest air quality update. Here are some websites to check for the following countries:
  • Singapore: National Environment Agency
  • Malaysia: Department of Environment
  • US: AIRNow
• Avoid outdoor activities, especially outdoor sports. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illnesses, especially heart and respiratory disease, should remain indoor when the haze hits unhealthy levels. Healthy adults should avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. If you must exercise outdoor, avoid exercising in highly congested areas near busy roads and freeways, particularly during rush hours. Read more: Is Running in a Haze Bad for Health?
• Close all windows, doors and any openings that may allow haze to enter your home and office. Turn on the air conditioner if you have one. Note: If the weather is extremely hot, it can become dangerous if you stay indoor with all fresh air intake closed and has no air conditioner. In this case, seek alternative shelter.
• Use an air purifier to keep the particulate levels low. Choose an air purifier that is suitable for the size and type of your home. Avoid air cleaners that generate ozone as they will increase air pollution.
• Keep air conditioner in tip-top working condition with regular cleaning and servicing. Fine particles can enter an air-conditioned building through the fresh air intake and by infiltration through openings and gaps.
• If you are staying in a building with a central air conditioning system, install an air cleaning device. This helps to reduce the amount of air contaminants that may be circulating in your building.
• Take your medication regularly if you are suffering from an existing disease, especially heart disease and respiratory disease. If you feel breathless at any point in time, seek medical attention immediately.
• Drink more water and increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. They help the body to flush out toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs, and improve the immune system. Cut down on alcohol and coffee as they promote fluid loss and leach nutrients from the body.
• Limit or avoid smoking indoor and the use of gas stove, wood fireplace, candles, incense and anything that burns and emits smoke. In an enclosed area, smoke, gases and pollutants emitted from burning sources are trapped indoor and could build up to hazardous level if they continue to burn for an extended period of time.
• Avoid driving if visibility is bad. When visibility is severely limited by the haze, avoid driving and use the public transport if you really need to get around. If you cannot avoid driving, do not speed and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. Roll up all the windows, turn on the headlight and avoid changing lanes, passing and crossing traffic. Increase your following distance and stay alert.
• Under severe haze condition, wear a respirator if you must go outside. Respirators work better than surgical masks as they seal better and restrict more polluted air from entering the nose and mouth. They also come with the right filter to remove fine particles found in a haze. If you stay indoor and yet still experience haze-related conditions, it may be necessary to use respirators indoor as well.
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