.Thursday, June 28, 2007 ' 6:04 AM Y
chemistry report on air
(a)The reason Singapore experiences haze is due to the carried smoke particles created from other countries that have unfortunately reached the said country. Forest fires in parts of Indonesia, such as the Riau and Jambi provinces in Sumatra, are largely the cause of the transboundary haze that had hit Asean in the past few years. Last October, Singapore's haze situation reached unhealthy PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) levels — between 101 to 200.(b)The adverse air quality caused by the haze can kill many organisms including humans. The Ozone pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Also, the haze can reduce the amount of sunlight received by plants to carry out photosynthesis. When that happens, it indirectly affects humans by destroying the entire food chain. This will result in a lack in food and to eventual starvation and death in the country. (c)Since the haze affects not only Singapore but the other ASEAN countries as well, all countries have been doing their best to stop the problem. In the Indonesian Environment Minister, Rahmat Witoelar’s own words, "The prevention is being done, has been done and will be done... and the extinguishing of the fire will be done... in the initial stages, so that it does not blow out of control." In fact the Jakarta government has set aside some US$80 million to prevent and suppress land and forest fires - the main cause of the annual haze.
As an individual, we can help out in solving the situation by not burning things like plastic, tires and such unnecessarily.
(d)It is expected that these actions will stop the haze and the eventual disadvantages and effects.(e)It had been mentioned previously that the haze affects the ASEAN countries, and that the countries have been doing their best to prevent the haze, however Indonesia and the Philippines has yet to ratify the Trans Boundary Haze Agreement. Also, the Haze Fund has also not taken off, with most member countries saying they are still considering making the voluntary contributions.
References:http://www.siiaonline.org/finally_asean_taking_serious_steps_to_stop_hazehttp://www.channelnewsasia.com
