Hi y’all,
having a good sunday, are you?
It’s been a while since my last Selfie Sunday, but today I have one for you. A very current and relevant one, in fact. It is related to the yearly haze that hits Singapore.
What causes Singapore’s yearly haze?
The haze comes back every year and it is very bad at the moment. And long-lasting. It even rised to hazardous levels several times, over the last weeks.
Two newspaper clippings from the past week.
In case you’re interested:
the haze comes from Sumatra and is caused by forest fires. The fires are started intentionally, mostly by the palm oil industry. Creating a haze in surrounding countries, in particular in Singapore. That haze often lasts for at least a month. This year it’s expected to last even two months. Horrible!
What are the effects of the haze?
The haze envelops everything in a grey veil, obstructing the sun to come through. This is the visible effect.
Singapore looks grey due to the haze.
But that’s not the worst of it.
The haze is dangerous for the health of people and animals. There is an index to measure the level of pollution: the PSI index.
Some of the effects you can not only see, but actually feel: irritated eyes and throat and difficulty breathing.
But the worst is something that you can see nor feel. Above a certain PSI level the haze create cancer. Ofcourse this will only show up years later.
There’s a first time for everything;-). Or how the haze made me wear a face mask
All this made me wear a face mask for the first time in my life.
And the bad conditions made me repeat it several times since. Awkward!
Have you ever had to wear a face mask? When and where was that?
I only wear one if those when Im using a saw. I wouldnt wanna be in your shoes right now!! Take good care of you!
No, it’s not funny, this haze, Kiki. You’re right about that. Yes, I’ll take good care. Hope you do too. There’s a letter to you on its way;-).
No I never did. And I wonder if it helps a lot. I can imagine the Singapore government trying to stop these fires. But there is no stopping it I suppose. Too big an area, too many crooks, too much money involved.
Greetje
It seems to help. At least for a part. It will depend on how good your mask is and how well you place it on your face. It has to be the right size and you have to adjust the nose bridge so there are no gaps through which pollutants can enter the mask.
For the rest you assumptions are spot on. Like I replied to Melanie: it is said we will be stuck with it until march 2016. I can only hope they are wrong with this prognoses.
Oh man! I feel for you lady! That cannot be fun at all.
I have worn a mask, but in our house when we had some mould in our basement and I had to work down there. It made me very ill. Even with the mask, which looked more like the high powered ones they wear in labs. People with sensitive immune systems and bodies (like you and I) are very susceptible to serious side effects. I was ill for a good 10 days and who knows what the long term effects will be? Like you mentioned.
Thankfully Robert got rid of the mould for the most part. Plus I am often in my upstairs office. Like you in your Haarlem house, I have a few different offices : )
bisous
Suzanne
I remember your mould problem. That was horrible and very unhealthy! Didn’t know you had to walk around in the house with such a serious mask. Glad Robert was able to resolve the problem!
Yes, instead of going to the office (as in another building for work), you and I, we create home-offices. No commuting, no annoying bosses and co-workers. Yay!
I am a strong supporter of face masks for pollution and for shielding others from our colds. I lived in Japan for some years where you are considered rude if you don’t try to keep your cold to yourself. It makes sense but I think masks won’t catch on here for a while.
You will like this idea, Anja - decorate you mask. I did a post on it last year. For example, draw on an animal nose and mouth or anything you like. It certainly makes a mask much more cheerful.
Most of all, I’m sorry that you are forced into this situation by pollutants. How awful! I hope the haze lifts soon!
I like your suggestion of decorating the mask, Melanie. I thought about it, but am not sure if it will effect the effectivity of the mask. Have to find that out first. But yeah, great idea.
It is said that this time the haze will remain a problem here till march 2016! That would be a stretch of 6 whole months then. Crazy!!!