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Gasping for Clean Air: Everything You Need to Know About the Danger of Haze

27 July 2020

As mid-year rolls around, many of us living in Southeast Asia will know that the time of the haze has come. Dark skies and putrid smoke emerge to cause various environmental and health problems. In recent years, haze situations have increasingly become so severe that schools have to be shut. What causes this? And how can we fight it? Here�s what you need to know.

What is Haze?

The haze we see in our skies is caused by tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere. At high concentrations, these particles scatter and absorb sunlight resulting in diminished visibility thereby giving the atmosphere a characteristic darker appearance.

Where Does It Come From?

The particles that cause haze originate from multiple sources, some of which are natural and some man made. Natural sources include the ocean, forest and ground surface.

Health Effects of Haze

In the short-term, haze can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat in healthy individuals. The heart and lungs are particularly affected by particles in haze, raising risks for those with heart or lung conditions.

How Do We Keep Safe?

Avoiding exposure:

If you need to be outdoors, make sure you wear a respirator mask. Respiratory masks, such as N95 masks, are designed to keep out fine particulate matter and hence protect you from breathing in the smoke particles in the air. The mask should be changed when it gets soiled or distorted in shape. Some masks even have expiry dates on them.

Reference :

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