CHAPTER 12: AIR QUALITY AND POLLUTANT

Assalamualaikum guys and hye so today we talk about air quality and pollutant.

Definition haze

a)haze is fine dust,smoke, or light vapor causing lack of transparency of the air.

b) a cloudy appearance in a transparent liquid or solid; also:dullness of finish

c)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 observe.



(source:http://cdn.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2015/10/C_PC00089501.jpg)

Health Effects of Haze

a) 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

b)When inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream and get absorbed by underlying tissue, potentially interacting with other compounds and substances in the body,

Short term adverse effects of exposure to haze

• Eye irritation, watering eyes, and/or 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
• Headache, dizziness, fatigue and/or stress

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

1)The long-term risks associated with exposure to fine particles:
 a) Faster rate of thickening of the arteries compared to others, promoting the development of vascular diseases.

b)Increases the risk of death by cardiovascular disease and reduces life expectancy by several months to a few years.

c)May contribute to the development of diabetes

d)Spontaneous abortion, under-weight infants, birth defects and infant death.

General Measures at the workplace.

-Minimize outdoor activities.
Identify outdoor work that may be reduced
-Turn on air comditioner if available.
-Ensure maintenance of the air conditioner with regular cleaning and servicing
-Use an air purifier to keep the particulate levels low.

General Measures for the workers

• Inform the management if you are suffering from any heart or respiratory diseases
• Take your medication regularly if suffering from an existing disease, especially heart disease and respiratory diseases.
• Drink more water and increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
-This helps the body to flush out toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs, and improve the immune system. • Cut down on alcohol and coffee
-These promote fluid and nutrient loss from the body.
• Avoid smoking
• Wear a respirator when you go outside.

Source pollution devided by two which is natural and anthropogenic

Natural
Dust storm
Forest fire
Volcanic eruption

Anthropogenic
Transportation
Residential
Agriculture
Industrial

Individual initiative
-car pooled
-hybrid vehicles-subsidized
-NGV
-Public transport
-4R(Reduce,Reuse,Recycle,Recover)
-Stop open burning

National initiative
• Support renewable energy such as solar, biofuels, wind & hydroelectric.
• Stop mining fossil fuels.
• Industrial-waste to energy, EIA, best available techniques, ISO 140001 etc.
• Strengthen the enforcement (JPJ, Puspakom, DOE, any related agencies)
• R&D on fuel quality
• Intensive for public transport user
• Public awareness-campaigns
• Improve monitoring technology.

Legislation
Environmental Quality Act 1974
• Control of Industrial Emissions 
• Environment Quality (Clean Air): Regulation 1978
• Environment Quality (Compounding of offences): Rules 1978

• Control of Motor Vehicle Emissions
• Environment Quality (Control of lead concentration in Malaysia) Regulations 1985
• Environmental Quality (Motor vehicle Noise): Regulation 1987
• Environmental Quality (Control of emission for diesel engine) Regulations 1996
• Environmental Quality (Control of emission for petrol engine): Regulation 1996.

References
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haze
(these notes based on my lecturer's note, Sir Mohd Jamalil Azam bin Mustafa)