HAZE POLUTTION MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA

Introduction
Haze is a situation where there is pollution to the air by suspended particulate matter.
The various determinants of air pollution are, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide,
Ozone,Carbon Monoxide and PM10.
The haze first became a considerable disruption to daily life in Malaysia since April
1983. The cause of haze is not very clear define by Indonesia, which this issue has
lead to speculation that suspended ash particulates from volcanic eruptions,
suspended smoke particulates from large-scale forest fires, open agricultural burning
in neighbouring countries, as well as local agricultural burning had caused the
haze.The disruption happened again in August 1990, from June to October 1991,
and has recurred every year since 1992, plagueing the months of August,
September, and October. The effects of the haze reached their zenith in 1997 when
the cause of the haze was confirmed to be forest and plantation fires in Southern
Sumatra, Kalimantan, and some other islands of Indonesia as the sky remained dull
with pollution from August until November of that year.
The fine particulate matter or PM10 (particulate of size 10 micron and below) is the
main concern as it may lead to adverse health conditions. Haze is caused when
sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air. Some light is absorbed by
particles while other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer. The more
the pollutants, the more the absorption and scattering of light, which reduces the
clarity and color of what we see. Air quality is determined by the Air Pollutant Index
which is measured by the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, stipulates that it is
the responsibility of the employer to ensure the safety, health and welfare of the
employee. The employer is thus responsible to ensure that preventive measures are
taken for employees who are performing their tasks during the haze.
The infamous haze which has for many years intermittently shrouded parts of
Malaysia, including the capital, Kuala Lumpur, poses serious health risks to those
living beneath its mist. Despite this, the Air Pollutant Index (API the principal

measurement of air pollution) was a State secret between the haze crisis of 1997/8
and that of August 2005. As a result, those affected were denied access to
information which might have helped them to make important health-related
decisions. In many countries, even where air quality problems are not serious, this
information is available as a matter of course.
Operation Haze is the biggest cross border firefighting mission in history that involved
teams of Malaysian firefighters going across to Indonesia to assist with putting out
fires that were causing haze.
Health Effects of Haze
Exposure to haze may cause a variety of adverse health effects. The small particles
that cause haze are composed of microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so
small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. 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.
Short-term adverse effects of exposure to haze:
Eye irritation, watering eyes, and 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, phlegm
Long-term effects of exposure to haze
A large number of particles in a haze are below 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
Therefore 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.
The long-term risks associated with exposure to fine particles:
Faster rate of thickening of the arteries compared to others, promoting the
development of vascular diseases.

 Increases the risk of death by cardiovascular disease and reduces life expectancy
by several months to a few years
May contribute to the development of diabetes
Spontaneous abortion, under-weight infants, birth defects and infant death.

Air Pollutant

Health Effect

Action to be taken at the workplace

Index(API)
Reading
0-50

Description
Good

Prepare for any future possibility of

air pollution

51-100

Moderate

Identify outdoor activities that need

to be minimized
Health Education to the employees
Ensure stock of N95 masks

101-200

Unhealthy

Initiate use of N95 respirators by

employees working outdoors
Reassign susceptible employees
with difficulties working outdoors to
indoor jobs.

201-300

Very Unhealthy

Minimize strenuous outdoor tasks

Reassign all susceptible employees
to indoor jobs.
Avoid strenuous outdoor tasks
Temporarily stop earthworks and
earth movements tasks

301-400

Hazardous

Assess visibility for work processes

Ensure use of headlights while
driving
Ensure all persons working outdoor
are using N95 respirators

400-500

Hazardous

Avoid outdoor work

>500

Hazardous

All government and private sector

offices and workplaces to be closed
pending declaration of Disaster
Emergency
by
the
National
Committee
on
Disaster
Management
except
essential
services