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Post by E-Wing on Aug 12, 2005 4:57:46 GMT 8
that's how poltics work, pal. they wait until the last possible moment, then they go into action.
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Post by Darth Tee on Aug 12, 2005 10:02:33 GMT 8
If you have asthma and going out, Keep those Dust Mask on. I think I remember back in 1997 when Singapore was also hit and we were given a "lecture" in the newspaper on the correct masks to use. Think Pharmarcy and Hardware Stores should have it. Yea, of course the Pharmacy and Hardware Stores are selling dust mask... and guess what? The price is ridiculous!!! Yesterday... I went to a pharmacy store with my dad to buy the masks... and the pharmacy is selling a normal packet of mask for RM100 I'm not sure whether it is only the pharmacy that I went did that... but... I can't believe it.... we are having an emergency situation here and yet... all they think about is MONEY!
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Post by Lord Wudious on Aug 12, 2005 10:58:49 GMT 8
That's usually the case, shopkeepers will raise the price of the items that people really need at that time.
Then again, each mask may have cost RM10 and anyway, it depends on the types of mask you are buying.
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Post by E-Wing on Aug 12, 2005 11:39:27 GMT 8
so true. same thing over here as well.
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Post by fishyahoo on Aug 12, 2005 14:52:54 GMT 8
Try buying mask from Ah Kau hardware shop. Can get simple type for 50 sen.
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Post by datazak on Aug 12, 2005 15:03:13 GMT 8
I just bought me a mask today at a DIY shop and it cost me RM1.50; that's about .30 cents in US currency.
The haze isn't so bad today (Friday 12/8). Visibility is still poor but I can at least see the horizon. Two days ago, I couldn't even see the building across the street!
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Clonetrooper
Veteran fan
Clone Fett, Bargain Hunter...
Posts: 303
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Post by Clonetrooper on Aug 12, 2005 17:01:33 GMT 8
Dark_ani, apparently the emergency declaration kicks in after API exceeding 500, got this email from a friend(sorry, bit lengthy): If API reaches 500 level... Following is a past article posted at Sahabat Alam Malaysia website. It tells about our country's Haze Action Plan which was approved since 1997 - measures to be done when API reaches the various critical levels. Read on to see what the existing Govt had done as compared to the action plan... Haze - Haze is a phenomenon characterised by high concentration of particulate matter that scatters and absorbs sunlight, lowering horizontal visibility. Haze episodes were reported as early as the 1980s. The August 1991 haze was the first serious haze in the country, followed by an equally serious haze in 1994. The haze in 1997 is by far the worst yet, and is expected to extend to May 1998. Haze attracted a great deal of public attention in the 1990s. Complaints of increased respiratory and asthma cases, poor visibility and a general feeling of depression were heard, and disruptions reported. In 1991, a fighter jet fly-past and parachuting display scheduled for the National Day celebrations on August 31 were cancelled, and light aircraft were banned from flying temporarily. Ipoh was dubbed the "Lost Horizon" when the visiting Japanese Emperor Akihito and his consort's scheduled visit was called off because of the haze. Poor visibility also caused at least one ship to run aground in Port Klang, and delayed the arrival and departure of 30 vessels. Incoming flights to Subang Airport had to be diverted to Penang or Singapore while outgoing flights were delayed. The situation became so serious that the Cabinet directed anti- pollution measures to be more strictly enforced to prevent the worsening of the haze. The 1991 haze was attributed to local causes such as open burning, increasing pollution in urban industrial areas and transport pollutants, as well as foreign causes such as forest fires in Sumatra, and peat fires in Kalimantan. Conditions such as relatively long dry spells, topography and light surface winds can also acerbate the haze. In the 1997 haze, the National Disaster Relief Management Committee ordered schools in Sarawak to close after the Air Pollution Index breached the 400 mark in the state. The Health Ministry's Haze Surveillance Operations Room issued warnings. At level 101 to 200 (unhealthy), those in the high-risk group were advised to stay indoors while others were advised to limit their outdoor activities. At level 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), high-risk groups should wear nasal masks while outdoors and drink plenty of water. At level 301 to 500 (hazardous), everyone should stay indoors. Motorcyclists and those who work outdoors should wear nasal masks and smokers to stop smoking. At level 501 and higher (emergency), everyone was advised to follows National Security Council directives. People were been advised to car-pool, reduce the use of two-stroke engine motorcycles to reduce smoke emissions, wear respiratory mask and use public transport. Kindergartens were advised to close once the Air Pollution Index (API) reached 300. High-risk groups such as asthmatics, those suffering from chronic lung diseases, the aged, toddlers below one year old and smokers were advised to seek medical treatment if they had trouble breathing. Smokers were also told to stop smoking. The high-risk groups were advised by the Health Ministry to stay indoors, wear a nasal mask if they had to be outdoors and to take medication on doctor's advice. Extended exposure may result in health problems in 10 to 20 years' time. Factories were told to suspend operations. Malaysian companies implicated in large-scale land clearing and open burning in Indonesia were told to contact the National Security Division. Following the collision of two cargo vessels near Port Klang and one near miss along the Straits of Malacca, the authorities advised tankers of more than 220 tonnes to avoid the Straits. Cloud-seeding flights were made nationwide to reduce the haze. Flights were delayed and airports were closed. Malaysia deployed 2000 personnel from the Fire Services and Rescue Department as well as the Special Malaysian Assistance Resource Team (SMART) to Indonesia to put out the raging fires.
Haze Action Plan - The Haze Action Plan formulated by the National Haze Committee after the haze episode in 1991 has finally approved by the Cabinet in August 1997. The Plan is not mandatory and is currently implemented on a voluntary basis despite the declaration of an emergency in Sarawak and the haze being described as a national emergency in 1997. Despite the existence of recommendations under the Plan to tackle local sources of pollution in mitigating the haze problem, the authorities have not found it fit to carry out such measures. According to the Plan, when the Air Pollution Index reaches an unhealthy level, i.e. an API reading of 101 - 200, for more than 72 hours, the actions that have been recommended include: Actions must be taken to reduce private vehicle usage and increase the use of public transport. Local authorities are required to increase car parking rates whilst the Transport Ministry is to get public transport operators to reduce charges for public transport. In addition, car-pooling is encouraged. Local authorities are to require quarry operators to use sprinklers to reduce dust. The Department of Environment is to require industries to reduce smoke emissions. DOE is to ensure that all operations causing the discharge of volatile organic compounds such as spraying, flaring and painting is minimized. Industries and power stations are to reduce the use of oil fuel. Total prohibition of all open-burning and stepping-up enforcement. When the API reaches the very unhealthy level, i.e. 201 - 300, among the measures recommended include stopping operation of old buses and taxis; cutting down traffic volume in cities by 50 percent and cutting down fuel utilization by 50 percent. When the Index reaches very hazardous levels, i.e. 301 - 400, among the recommended measures include the shortening of school and working hours, introducing discounted or free fares for public transport, banning usage of private vehicles and stopping emissions from industries. Haze Protector - At the height of the haze in 1997, the question of what constitutes a reliable respiratory protector arose. Apparently there is a difference between a mask and a respirator. A mask merely provides protection against particulate matter such as household dusts. It is not sufficient to protect against PM10 or smaller particles, which are known as respirable dust. Surgical masks are designed to protect the patient from wearer-generated micro-organisms. Fluid resistant masks help to reduce potential exposure of the wearer to blood and body fluids. Therefore, these masks are inadequate to protect the wearer from the haze. Masks are only effective if they have: adjustable nose clip; double elastic straps; electrostatically charged filter; internationally-recognized testing certification number printed on the product; and are fitted properly to the wearer's face. On the other hand, respirators are designed to filter and purify ambient air against certain air- borne contaminants. They also have a snug fit around the face and double elastic straps to help avoid leaks where contaminants may enter. Most surgical masks do not have the same filtering capability; they do not have the same snug fit; and they cannot provide respiratory protection. An effective respirator must be tested against particles with an aerodynamic diameter in the most penetrating size range: 0.2 to 0.6 micrometer. The governing body's certified number is printed on the respirator to indicate its compliance with the testing standards. The respirator should be replaced if breathing becomes difficult, or if it is damaged
Regarding the masks, I bought the white round type disposable dust masks at 30sen on Wednesday and another type blue plastic with white cotton on front covered by kinda "grille" design in front (looks a bit like dog snout after wearing), for RM1.50. This one (the cotton) is rewashable to certain extent. When I went to same Orang Cina hardware shop yesterday(Thu), was shocked that increased to 40sen and RM2.50 respectively(the same type I bough just a day earlier)!!!But actually I was waiting for this to happen...I should rather say I´m surprised they did NOT increase the price until only yesterday.Wednesday I also bought a surgeon´s mask for 70sen. The disposable (30 and 70 sen ones) have to throw (hence "disposable", makes sense eh?) after each use/everyday due to risk of infection of bacteria etc.inside the mask.They cannot be cleaned by washing also. Yesterday in my company I saw people buying another type of mask for RM4 each: Looks similar to the 30/40sen white round dust mask but with what looks like another extra layer/cover over the mask, so that it looks thicker and got the words "95N"(or 92N,cannot remember) printed on them, which I believe denotes the filter strength/size of particles it is capable of filtering.But today sold out already!!
OK, here is more reading material(from emails I received): The haze situation is deteriorating as seen today. For update, we have contacted our experts and doctors seeking their advise and appended below is what they have commented. Stay tune for more updates.
HAZE YOUR GUIDE FOR STAYING HEALTHY
WHAT IS 'HAZE' ?
Haze is a phenomenon or occurrence caused by the accumulation of fine particles in the air which are barely visible to naked eye. These particles may occur naturally or may be an outcome of human activities like open burning or smoky discharges from factories and exhaust of motor vehicles.When these particles accumulate in large quantities and suspend in the air, they can lock out sunlight and visibility will be greatly reduced.
AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API)
The API is obtained from the measurement of fine particles (below 10 microns) and several gases which are hazardous to health such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The API is used as a guide for measuring air quality and its effect on health as follows :-
API VALUE STATUS
0 - 50 - Good 51 - 100 - Moderate 101 - 200 - Unhealthy 201 - 300 - Very unhealthy 301 - 500 - Dangerous
HAZE THREATENS YOUR HEALTH
Continuous hazy conditions will cause ill effects to all people especially those in the high risk groups such as :-
1. Children 2. The elderly 3. Those with illnesses like, Asthma, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Chronic lung diseases, Heart diseases and Allergies 4. Cigarette smokers 5. Those who work outdoors most of the time
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO THE HAZE?
The effects of continuous exposure to the haze include:-
Itchy sensation in the throat, and coughing, increased phlegm Difficulty in breathing (wheeze) or nose block Pain, irritation, red and watery eyes Itchy skin rashes
If above symptoms persist, get advice and treatment at the nearest clinic.
PREVENTION OF HAZE-RELATED ILLNESSES
*Close all windows and doors to your bedroom. Boil a kettle (electric) of water in the room and allow the steam to fill the room. Allow 10 - 15 minutes for the fine water vapor (steam) to collect the pollutants / particles in the air and settle down. After this the room should contain healthier air.
*Usage of face and surgical masks are of no use if they are not regularly changed as they can act as a base for bacteria to grow and result in other infections. Only very close fitting masks that do not allow air to enter through the sides of the mask are effective.
*Limit all outdoor activity as far as possible e.g avoid outdoor sport or physical activities.
*Always wash / bathe as soon as you return from outdoors. This will minimize eye / skin irritation. For minor eye irritation try using over the counter eye drops e.g Eye Mo.
*Use your car air-conditioner when traveling in the car.
* Drink a lot of water.
*Smokers are advised to quit smoking.
* Those who suffer from diseases such as flu, bronchitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, heart diseases or chronic lung diseases should seek immediate treatment at the clinic or hospital if their condition worsens.
Another email(from my company and sorry if alignment is out, is copied from Wor document which includes tables):
Estimating your "Personal API" and Actions Required It is important to work out your "Personal API" so that you can minimise your exposure and keep your daily average "Personal API" below 100. It is possible to estimate your unprotected "Personal API" outside from the visibility. The particles in haze bend light rays. This causes a drop in visibility. Water vapour in air has the same effect, so the reduction in visibility is not only caused by haze. The average humidity drops from 95% early in the morning to around 70% by 10am and then stays fairly stable until 4pm. The table below is simplified to use only the two average humidity readings..
Estimated "Personal API" Outside. "Personal API" 5Km 3Km 2Km 1Km 0.5Km 0.2Km 0.1Km Around 7am(95% Relative Humidity) 25 40 60 90 150 >500 >1000 9am Onwards(70% Relative Humidity) 75 110 150 400 >800 >1500 >3000 "Personal API" Figures at the time that the visibility is checked (not 24 hour average)
The following are recommendations for managing your activity at different haze levels. The haze levels are estimated from the visibility table.
"Personal API" estimated from Visibility Table Action Advised(2) Maximum Outside Exposure Less than 100 No restrictions None 100 to 300 (3) Disposable Mask 3M8710 (4) or equivalent as far as practicalHealthy population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity. Persons with lung or heart disease should reduce outdoor activity.Ensure measures are taken to minimise smoke entry to house. None 300 to 500 Wear a Disposable Mask outside.Healthy population should avoid vigorous outdoor activity. Persons with heart and lung diseases should stay indoors. None whilst wearing a mask >500 (5) Wear a Disposable Mask outside at all times.Healthy population should minimise outdoor activities. Persons with heart and lung disease should remain indoors in a filtered or air-conditioned environment.Ensure windows and doors are closed. Check seals around frames and tape as required. Block off all air vents to the house, extractor fans etc. Minimise door opening. Use the air filters and air-con where available to create a safe sleeping environment. 2 hours per day with a mask.
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Post by The SITH OverLORD on Aug 13, 2005 2:39:53 GMT 8
Try buying mask from Ah Kau hardware shop. Can get simple type for 50 sen. I've got 3 of these masks FOC from a kind lady who was carrying a boxful and distributing them to ppl she met at the Lift, including yours truly. ;D I subsequently gave one to the of the Security Guard on duty who was exposed to the haze by standing at the office's main entrance.
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Post by medic on Aug 13, 2005 9:18:41 GMT 8
Wow gang, I saw this on the local news at the end of my shift. You guys be careful over there. Wish I could send you some O2.
Like E wing said, the shop keepers jack the prices up here too in times of need. I have seen a few do the right thing and keep the cost down.
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Post by Darth Tee on Aug 13, 2005 22:09:49 GMT 8
I've got 3 of these masks FOC from a kind lady who was carrying a boxful and distributing them to ppl she met at the Lift, including yours truly. ;D I subsequently gave one to the of the Security Guard on duty who was exposed to the haze by standing at the office's main entrance. Wow... the world will be a better place if we have more of the kind lady who the Overlord had just mentioned... By the way... the haze in Puchong, KL and maybe many places else had just receded today... it was actually a fine sunny day today... but we can't be sure for how long it will last... just hope that they can really solve this problem...
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