Group Assignment Cover

This purpose of this blog is for Environmental Issues (SCI 219) group assignment. All the posts are written by the students listed below:

Tho Wai Kei C1200315
Ooi Wan Yun C1100101

August's BLUE Skies

Image taken from Department of Environment showing the API readings on August 10, 2013 in Malaysia. 

Malaysia is blanketed by the haze few weeks and finally the blue skies has returned and people are able to breathe in fresh air. However, some areas still under the moderate reading of API ( states with green API reading). As mentioned in the previous post, the dry period in southern ASEAN region will last until October which means that the haze phenomenon might attack Malaysia again depends on the direction of the wind.  Therefore, hope that everyone are aware with this issue and take precaution before it is too late. 

Finally, let's fight against haze and stay healthy. Hope that this blog helps you to understand what is haze, the seriousness of haze, the impact of haze to the people and the country. Hopefully the precautions suggested can help all of us to fight against haze. 

Precaution against Haze

Pay Attention on Air Quality
People should aware about the latest levels of the air condition.They can check API levels from news, newspaper, and website from Department of Environment.

Reduce Outdoor Activities
People should stay at home instead of outdoor activities due to the hazardous air quality.

Wear a Mask

Everyone who wants to go out should wear a right mask to prevent inhale the haze. A N95 respirator mask is effective in filtering out the fine particles that are produced by haze. People should not expose themselves unnecessarily to the haze, especially those who have respiratory problems or other related illnesses.

Close Windows and Doors 
People should close windows and doors that may allow haze t enter home and office. However, if the whether is hot, it could become danger if people stay indoor with enclosed area. Therefore, people should seek alternative shelter.

Use Air Purifier
People can choose an air purifier that is suitable the shelter to keep the particulate levels low.

Take Medication Regularly
If the person have existing diseases such as heart or respiratory illnesses, the person should take the medication regularly. If you have breath difficulty at this point, seek medical attention immediately.

Drink More Water
People should drink more water and increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables o helps the body to flush out toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs. Additionally, this can improve the immune system.

Avoid Smoking Indoor
This may increase the levels of pollution if people continue to smoke or burns anything openly for an extended period of time.

Avoid Driving 

When the visibility is bad or limited by the haze, people should avoid driving to prevent accident. People should use the public transport if really need to go somewhere. If you really need to drive, do not speed and turn on the headlight and avoid changing lanes and increase following distance.

Health Advisory in Different API Levels

The following shows some of the effect and health advisory for different index value of API levels. 

There is no precautions required in 50 to 100. When the index value was reached 101 to 200, those susceptible population could have heart or lung ailments, eye irritation, sneezing, coughing. These people with respiratory problems should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities.

When the index value was reached 101 to 200, this is  unhealthy level. This air quality could decreased tolerance in persons with heart or lung diseases. Elderly and persons with existing heart or lung illnesses should stay at indoors. The general population should avoid vigorous outdoor activities. On the other hand, people should put air cleaning devices in homes and offices.

Once the index value reached 201 to 300, it is very unhealthy levels for air quality. Due to this serious level, children, elderly, and illness person should stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities. The general population should avoid all unnecessary outdoor activities. People must wear a mask if they are going out. 

There is hazardous level once the index value of API is above 301. People  should keep physical exertion and outdoor activities to as low as level as possible. People should avoid outdoors activities.


Reference
Bliss Air (2013) Health effects of haze. Retrieved from: http://blissair.com/health-effects-of-haze.htm

Not only impact our health, but could impact ECONOMIC GROWTH

The haze not only impact your health, but may also impact economic growth of some part of the country if the atmosphere's condition does not improve and remain the unhealthy range. It could impact the our daily life.

The tourists from other countries tend to stay at home country instead of going out to the place which with unhealthy condition. Due to the unhealthy environment and people tend to reduce outdoor activities, tourism and leisure businesses lose their business at this point. Also, it could be lose millions of ringgit at current situation. In addition, if the haze getting worse, the tourists may return to their country and spread word about the situation of our country.
They might spread word by social network such as Facebook, and this will affect our tourism industry in future. Out country may blacklisted by other people due to the bad environment condition. On the other hand, the haze also affect consumer spending. People from our country would travel to other countries to escape the haze. It is a negative impact to our tourism industry.

Stop Burning!!!Haze in Malaysia 2013

This video shows the dangerous haze going on in Malaysia. During the haze episodes, we can smell the the haze is very strong. The haze covered the view of our country. I can't even see our lovely KLCC at that  time. Some place used to be a  lot of buildings of the view, but everything was covered by the haze. We should try our best to save the forest as save our mother earth and our life. Normally in Malaysia, the haze happen almost every year but is normally not this serious. Due to the excessive pollution and burning of rubbish, the haze has gone really bad. The only way to make it better is to stop burning forest and rubbish so often. We should save our forest and stop cutting down the trees and mountains. 

How Haze Affect Your Health

Eyes Inflammation 

Irritated Eyes

Watering Eyes

Conjunctivitis 

Nasal Irritation

Running Nose

Stuffy Nose

Sneezing

Post-Nasal Drip

Throat irritation

Dry Throat 

Sore Throat

Coughing

Lung Inflammation 

Decreased Lung Function

Depressed Respiratory Immune Defenses

Chest Pain

Stress, Headache, Dizziness, Fatigue

Haze is back!

The smoky Kuala Lumpur 

On July 23, 2013, the haze has returned to Malaysia in the morning with more than 100 API reading. Traditional dry period of southern ASEAN region are between June and October where annual forest fires in Indonesia will cause haze phenomenon in Malaysia. Malaysia was spared due to the wind direction and relief from the rain in the past few days; therefore, Malaysia is still expecting to experience the haze phenomenon until September due to the southwest monsoon. From the photo you can see that the KLCC is blanketed by the haze again. Other states in Malaysia such as Cheras, Putrajaya, Manjung and Shah Alam are all recorded moderate API readings between 60 to 93. Moreover, Port Klang is back to unhealthy API level of 117 again. 

The Kek Lok Si temple under API 100 in the morning 

Penang Bridge is blanketed with haze.

The haze is moving to north part which caused Ipoh, Penang and Perak to have an unhealthy level of API again. The Kek Lok Si temple is barely visible from the view and the API level is moving to unhealthy. The API reading in Ipon is recorded 107 which is unhealthy. At the same time, Alor Setar and Kangar are both recorded with API 108 and 103 respectively. The people in these states need to wear masks and take precaution against the haze again. 

Better API readings

A clearer view of KLCC on June 28, 2013.

There is an overall significant drop in the API in several states in Malaysia on June 28, 2013 after bouts of rain fell. Shah Alam which experienced hazardous is recorded to have only API 70 on June 28 while the rest of the states are reported to have less than API 100 but more than 50. Even though the API level has drop, the level is still under unhealthy.The view of KLCC has finally returned after covered by the haze in the past few days.

The clear view of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway after the rain. 

Moreover, most northern states such as Penang and Perak reported to have not more than API 60 which are claimed to be under good situation. All the buildings can be seen clearly and irritation of eyes also reduced. The air quality in penang has improved. Schools and sports day are conducted again with the advantage of the clear skies in those states which reported under moderate or good condition. 

Muar with API 70

The picture above shows the clearer view of Muar after declared as the emergency zone on last week. However, the API reading of Muar is still under moderate, people still need to wear masks when conduct outdoor activities. 

However, Nilai and Port Klang are still experiencing API which more than 100. Hopefully the haze situation can be thinning in Nilai and Port Klang in the evening for the normal ferry activities to be conducted. 

Malaysia continued blanketed by haze

The scene in Muar which covered by haze on June 23, 2013

On June 23, 2013, Muar API has went as high as 750. Malaysia is said to be the worst levels of haze in 16 years and several parts of Malaysia had been declared as emergency status. This API reading has alarm the health of  the citizens in Muar. The road and the building can be hardly seen. Moreover, people are also breathing smoky air which is harmful to the body. People need to be more caution when driving and conducting outdoor activities. 

The haze covered the city of Shah Alam on June 23, 2013 

Besides Muar which is declared as emergency zone, the air quality in Bukit Rambai and Malacca are also experiencing hazardous level with API more than 350 and 400. The buildings can hardly be seen in the photo. Besides the states mentioned above, other states in Malaysia are also reported to have API reading which more than 100.  Based on the API, reading which more than 100 is consider as unhealthy therefore, people need to wear masks before stepping out from their house to avoid inhale any harmful air. Moreover, the consumption of eye drop has also increase due to the irritation of eyes that caused by the haze.    

How is haze Monitored?

Malaysia’s haze readings are measured according to Air Pollutant Index (API) which different from those in Singapore which uses the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). According to Teo (2013), both scales are developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The five major pollutants measured in API are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone (Environmental Science 101, 2011). All these pollutants are harmful to human. The API reading is aimed to measure the level of these pollutants contained in the air. The ideal API reading is below 50 which is consider as good, healthy and safe for the people. When the API exceeds 100, the people are said to be in unhealthy situation. Therefore, the state is claimed to be hazardous when the API exceeds 300 and when the API exceeds 500, the state will be declared as emergency. Many parts of Malaysia had been declared as hazardous and emergency starting from June 16, 2013. The API readings helped the public to raises the awareness of the haze issue happening around us and take precaution from inhaling the harmful air.

Reference

Environmental Science 101. (2011). Air quality index. Retrieved from: http://www.trunitydemo2.net/env101template1/view/article/149935/

Teo, C. W. (2013). Malaysia’s worst haze in 16 years. Retrieved from: http://www.stasiareport.com/the-big-story/asia-report/malaysia/story/malaysias-worst-haze-16-years-20130624

Malaysia's worst haze in 16 years

Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur on June 16, 2013

What is Haze?

Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur is covered with haze on June 16, 2013 and reached the API 127 which considered as unhealthy. Port Klang's API even reached 144 while the township of Shah Alam reached 129.  These states are claimed to be in unhealthy situation. According to Malaysia Meteorological Department, MMD (2013), haze is caused by the absorption of sunlight by tiny particulates suspended in the atmosphere, resulting in diminished horizontal visibility thereby giving the atmosphere a characteristic opalescent appearance.

The particles that causes haze phenomenon can originate for many sources such as natural and some anthropogenic. Haze which caused by the natural sources is harmless to human whereas the haze which caused by anthropogenic is harmful for human. However, the main causes of Malaysia today’s haze was forest fires from neighboring Indonesia which consider as anthropogenic. Therefore the haze phenomenon has put the health of Malaysian in dangerous. The smoke was blow across Malacca Strait to Malaysia. Due to the dry season, the haze phenomenon is expected to worsen over the next two weeks. 

References

Malaysia Meteorological Department. (2013). Haze. Retrieved from:http://www.met.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&d=70&Itemid=160&lang=english