More research needed to mitigate impact of haze

IT may look clear outside, with no smoky smell, but that does not necessarily mean that the air does not contain harmful pollutants, warns Dr Erik Velasco, research scientist from the Singapore-MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Alliance for Research and Technology, underlining the importance of an accurate reading of the haze.

As he had told The Straits Times, “Don’t just trust your eyes and nose because they are not what detect harmful substances in the air.”

Dr Velasco was one of the experts who pushed for the country’s National Environmental Agency (NEA) to provide hourly reports from its haze monitoring system to enable people to manage the short-term harm of haze exposure to their health.

“Full transparency in the dissemination of air pollution information to the public is necessary. Environmental authorities have to communicate air quality information quickly and efficiently. In addition to the 24-h Pollutant Standard Index (PSI), they need to report the 1-h PSI, as well as the hourly concentrations of all monitored pollutants,” he says in an e-mail interview.

It was reported recently that Malaysians will also soon be able to see real time readings of the haze rather than the current 24-hour average Air Pollutant Index (API).

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted as saying that he would bring up the proposal at the next Cabinet session on Wednesday, and if approved, it will be implemented the next day.

Many Malaysians are hoping that the Government will also adopt the PM2.5 measure­ment that Singapore uses; this is a reading of six pollutants that includes the measurement of fine particles sized less than 2.5 microns. This will provide a more accurate measurement of the haze index instead of the current PM10 which only measures pollutant particles measuring smaller than 10 microns.

Wan Junaidi has said that the PM2.5 measure­ment can only be introduced in mid-2017 because his ministry needs to upgrade the entire system simultaneously.

The lack of a comprehensive air quality monitoring network covering the entire Straits of Malacca is a problem, says Dr Velasco.

“It must be a priority. The three countries – Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia – should work together to implement such a monitoring network.

“In Singapore, I always recommend to follow the 1-h concentration of fine particles, or PM2.5. Among the monitored pollutants, PM2.5 is the most representative pollutant for the haze plumes,” he reiterates, adding that robust methodologies to detect fires and forecast the dispersion of the haze are also needed.

Dr Velasco believes it is also the authorities’ responsibility to provide mitigation measures based on scientific information.

“Important investments are needed to improve knowledge about the origin and phy­sical and chemical processes of the haze, as well as on its impact on public health and ecosystems,” he says.

Universiti Malaya Sabah’s environmental science expert Dr Justin Sentian proposes that Malaysia adopts the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to report on the health risk posed by a specific level of air quality during a hazy period.

“The AQHI reports on the health risk posed by a mixture of pollutants: ground level ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. The existing API communicates the air quality of the single worst pollutant, while the index rating for the AQHI is the sum of the health risks from each of the pollutants in the index. It reflects the current knowledge of the health effects associated with air pollution,” he says.

Dr Sentian also stresses the importance of clear action plans – based on scientific information and reliable air pollution data – to protect as best as possible the people’s health during haze.

“The Government and authorities need to state clearly actions such as closing schools and banning outdoor activities when pollution reaches certain concentrations. The general public, meanwhile, should adhere to the ad­visory and guidelines issued by the Government to minimise the effects of the haze on their health,” he says.