Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Report on air in Singapore in 2006:
COMPOSITION OF AIR
The present atmosphere of the Earth is mad up of about 79%of nitrogen, 20% of oxygen and 1% of other gases such as noble gases and carbon dioxide.
The amount of carbon dioxide is about 0.03% in clean air.
AIR POLLUTIONAir pollutants include various gases and tiny particles, or particulates that can harm human health and damage the environment. The main pollutants in the air are:
haze
Carbon monoxide(CO)
Sulphur dioxide(SO2)
Nitrogen oxides(NO, NO2)
Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)
Methane(CH4)
Ozone(O6)
Carbon dioxide(CO2)
In this report, we are focusing on haze.
The cause and source of the haze;
Effects of the haze on human lives;
Action taken to prevent the haze by individual, school, and the government; Expected results of the action;
Last but not least, some obstacles that prevent the reduction of the haze.
INTRODUCTION: Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. It occurs when dust and smoke particles accumulate in relatively dry air. When weather conditions block the dispersal of smoke and other pollutants they concentrate and form a usually low-hanging shroud that impairs visibility and may become a respiratory health threat. Dense haze caused by industrial pollution is also known as smog.
SCENARIO: Singapore experienced haze weather last year. That was because the wind carried smoke particles from the rainforest fire of a neighboring country over to Singapore. The PSI which measures the air quality, shot up during this period, indicating that the air was unhealthy.
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CAUSES & SOURCES: The 2006 Southeast Asian haze event was caused by continued uncontrolled burning from "slash and burn" cultivation in Indonesia. Slash and burn refers to the cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields for agriculture or pasture for livestock, or for a variety of other purposes. It is sometimes part of shifting cultivation agriculture, and of transhumance livestock herding. Satellite images taken over Kalimantan, on October 4 showed 561 "hot spots" indicating areas where fires had been set.
EFFECTS ON HUMAN: Particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in size, including fine particles less than 2.5 micrometers, can penetrate deep into the lungs. In recent studies, exposure to particulate pollution - either alone or with other air pollutants - has been linked with premature death, difficult breathing, aggravated asthma, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, and increased respiratory symptoms in children. People most at risk from exposure to fine particulate matter are children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory problems
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ACTIONS TAKEN: On the government level, Singapore has expressed its concerns about the situation to Indonesia, stressing the urgency to suppress the forest fires which are causing the haze. If the situation became "extremely dangerous", which included priority treatment for haze-related illnesses.
Actions can be taken by companies, schools & individual
Index Value
PSI Descriptor
General Health Effects
Cautionary Statements
Up to 50
Good
Good
None for the general population
51 to 100
Moderate
Few or none for the general population
None required
101 to 200
Unhealthy
Mild aggravation of symptoms among susceptible persons ie. Those with underlying conditions such as chronic heart or lung ailments; transient symptoms of irritation eg. Eye irritation, sneezing or coughing in some of the healthy population.
Persons with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity.
The general population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity.
Appropriate public advisories regarding the use of respiratory masks and other health matters will be given.
201 to 300
Very Unhealthy
Moderate aggravation of symptoms and decreased tolerance in persons with heart or lung disease; more widespread symptoms of transient irritation in the healthy population.
Elderly and persons with existing heart or lung disease should stay indoors and reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity.
The general population should avoid vigorous outdoor activity.
Appropriate public advisories on air cleaning devices for homes and offices will be given.
301 to 400
Hazardous
Early onset of certain diseases in addition to significant aggravation of symptoms in susceptible persons; and decreased exercise tolerance in healthy persons.
Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity.
The general population should avoid all unnecessary outdoor activity.
Over 400
Hazardous
PSI levels above 400 may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons. Healthy people may experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.
Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors, keeping the windows and doors closed and avoiding physical exertion as far as possible.
Outdoor activity should be avoided.
The general population should keep physical exertion and outdoor activity to as low a level as possible.
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Channelnewsasia.comEXPECTED RESULTS: The ministry has advised hospitals and polyclinics to monitor the daily admission and attendance figures closely to ensure that adequate facilities, equipment and medication are available to meet any increase in the patient load arising from the haze, and to avoid shortage of hospital beds for acute or urgent cases.
Less people will be found in the open.
Less people going for exercises especially children, elderly and the sick.
More people will be found wearing mask as a prevention against the haze.
More people will drink water to clear their dry throats.
OBSTCALES THAT PREVENT THE REDUCTION OF HAZE: there are some obstacles that faced:
The culprits wouldn’t stop setting the fire despite of the consistent warning and fine from the Government.
The wind direction that could not be control by human means.
The lack of doctors that can attend to the massive affected people.
it got me home
4:58 AM
