Even in such hazy weather, My dog still needs to Poop. It will be a hazy smoky poo poo...
So what is Haze?
Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories of fog, ice fog, steam fog, mist, haze, smoke, volcanic ash, dust, sand and snow. Sources for haze particles include farming (ploughing in dry weather), traffic, industry, and wildfires.
Seen from afar (e.g. approaching airplane) and depending upon the direction of view with respect to the sun, haze may appear brownish or bluish, while mist tends to be bluish-grey. Whereas haze often is thought of as a phenomenon of dry air, mist formation is a phenomenon of humid air. However, haze particles may act as condensation nuclei for the subsequent formation of mist droplets; such forms of haze are known as "wet haze."
How can it effect us?
Fine particles in a haze are extremely small and light which mean they suspend in the air for much longer periods of time and stand a higher chance of being inhaled by animals and humans.
When inhaled, these fine particles (those measuring 10 microns or less) can cause irritation of the nose, throat, airways, skin and eyes.
You may experience sneezing, running nose, eye irritation, dry throat and dry cough as a result of inhaling the air pollutants. These symptoms are usually mild if the haze is not severe and will subside when you stay indoor and limit your exposure to haze.
However, if you are suffering from some medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, lung disease, chronic sinusitis and skin allergy, your condition could be worsened by haze. You are also more likely to experience severe haze-related effects than those who are healthy.
Minute particles contained within a haze can enter the bloodstream when they are breathed deep into the lungs and get absorbed by underlying tissue. Once they enter the blood, they can potentially interact with other compounds and substances in the body, for example ‘bad’ cholesterol, to produce damaging effects such as inflammation.
What can you do?
Singapore, 19 June 2013 – The 3-hour PSI reading as at 11pm is 282. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading as at 11pm today is in the range of 130 to 150, which is in the Unhealthy range. The 24-hour PM2.5 concentration is 160 to 202µg/m3 as at 11pm today. We expect the 24-hour PSI to increase overnight and may reach Very Unhealthy levels.
Haze Situation
Based on the 24-hour PSI readings, the Ministry of Health (MOH) advises that Singaporeans limit prolonged or heavy outdoor activities. In particular, children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung diseases, should avoid outdoor activities and seek medical treatment early if they feel unwell. MOH has activated the hospitals to prepare for the anticipated increase in the number of cases of asthma, bronchitis and conjunctivitis.
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