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