Long term exposure to PM2.5 has been known to cause premature death relating from heart disease, cardiovascular effects such as heart attacks and strokes, chronic respiratory illnesses and even cancer, while short term exposure can trigger non-fatal heart attacks, strokes and acute respiratory illness such as wheezing and asthma attacks. The NEA’s health advisory states that once PM2.5 concentration levels reach above 40, residents should start taking precautions such as reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. The same advisory puts the range of 150-250 as the upper limit where “everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors” which is the same descriptor given for the ‘hazardous’ range in the PSI table. The PM2.5 levels have been closer to 250 over the past 2 days and the current figure published by NEA is 215-286. The fact is that PM2.5 can’t be stopped with a surgical mask or a tissue over your mouth or nose – in fact, even N95 masks that are not fitted correctly (e.g. wrong size or facial hair) or used over a prolonged period (e.g. wet from breath moisture and sweat) might not be fully effective in the severe haze that we are experiencing. Yet, construction workers are going about their work from day to night while inhaling the air filled with PM2.5, and some people are nonchalantly travelling outdoors thinking “it’s not that bad lah”. The consistently high PM2.5 levels appear to be the better indicator of the situation, which supports a stop-work order, especially for those who are required to work outdoors. The discretionary manner of ‘no hard line’, and no clear directives on issuing protective gear to those exposed to the elements, seems an overly simplistic approach in light of the very hazardous conditions. But whatever the case, please be proactive in protecting your health and take the necessary precautions such as staying indoors as much as possible and wearing proper masks (i.e. not the surgical ones or worse, handkerchiefs).
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 05:45:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015