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A Review of Characteristics, Causes, and Formation Mechanisms of Haze in Southeast Asia

• Air Pollution (H Zhang and Y Sun, Section Editors)
• Published: 30 May 2022
• Volume 8 , pages 201–220, ( 2022 )

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• Dieu-Anh Van 1 ,
• Tuan V. Vu 2 ,
• Thu-Hien T. Nguyen 1 ,
• Le-Ha T. Vo 1 ,
• Nhung Hong Le 5 ,
• Phan H.T. Nguyen 3 ,
• Prapat Pongkiatkul 4 &
• Bich-Thuy Ly   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-9175 1  

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Haze is a well-known air pollution phenomenon linked to the severe and persistent particulate matter (PM) episodes in Southeast Asia (SEA), which significantly impacts the environment, health, and economy. This work reviewed for the first time the characteristics of haze episodes in terms of PM concentrations, chemical compositions, and the causes of haze in both Lower (Maritime) and Upper (Mainland) SEA. In addition, we carried out a systematic comparison of the frequency and intensity of haze events through SEA regions in recent years. Our finding indicated that the different trend of haze frequency and intensity between SEA cities are not only due to local air pollution sources such as biomass burning (BB) but also meteorology and long-range transport. Other sources such as secondary aerosols also play an important role in haze formation, but they have not been comprehensively investigated in previous studies. Due to the complicated formation mechanisms and the transportations of haze and its impacts on SEA’s human health and economy, more sophisticated and specific policies are needed to deal with haze issues not only for individual countries but also on a regional scale.

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This work is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 105.99–2019.322.

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Van, DA., Vu, T.V., Nguyen, TH.T. et al. A Review of Characteristics, Causes, and Formation Mechanisms of Haze in Southeast Asia. Curr Pollution Rep 8 , 201–220 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-022-00220-z

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Why Do People Haze?

Individuals and organizations engage in hazing activities for many reasons.  Some may engage in hazing activities with malicious intent because they enjoy the power they exert over younger members. Others may seek positive outcomes for hazing activities, such as team building and group development.  And in some cases, individuals may not even be aware that they are engaging in a certain behavior or activity that could be considered hazing.

Regardless of the intent, hazing stands in contrast to the  University Ethos Statement  and any perceived benefits are greatly outweighed by the actual cost of hazing.

Adapted from:   Cornell University and University of Rochester

Report Hazing

The University will investigate all reports of hazing behavior, including those reported anonymously.  If this is an emergency or an urgent situation, call 911 or Georgetown University Police (202-687-4343) immediately.

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

What is Haze?

Haze is the suspension in dry particles of salt, aerosols, dust, or photochemical smog atmosphere, which are so small (having the diameters 0.1 microns [0.00001 cm]) that they cannot be individually felt or seen with the naked eye. However, the aggregate reduces horizontal visibility and provides the atmosphere with an opalescent appearance. Haze appears as a yellowish or bluish veil based on whether the background is light or dark, respectively. In reference to these colours, the haze is discriminated against by the mist, which gives the sky a greyish cast.

Air Pollution

Haze often takes place, when the smoke and dust particles accumulate in dry air, relatively. Whenever the weather conditions block the dispersal of smoke and other pollutants, they can concentrate and produce a normally low-hanging shroud, that impairs visibility. They can also become a respiratory health threat. Industrial pollution can also result in a dense haze, which is also called smog.

Haze has been a particularly acute problem since 1991 in Southeast Asia. The primary source of haze has been fired occurring in Borneo and Sumatra. In response to the Southeast Asian haze in1997, the ASEAN countries agreed on a Regional Haze Action Plan in the same year. But, in 2002, all the ASEAN countries signed the Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement. However, pollution is still a problem today. Under this agreement, the ASEAN secretariat hosts a support and coordination unit. During the Southeast Asian haze in 2013, Singapore experienced a record level of high pollution, with the 3-hour Pollution Standards Index reaching a record level as high as 401.

In the United States, the IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) program has been developed as a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the US EPA to establish the chemical composition of haze in the National Parks and establish air pollution control measures to restore the visibility to the pre-industrial levels. In addition, the Clean Air Act needs that any current visibility problems be remedied, and the problems of future visibility are prevented, in 156 Class I Federal areas located in the entire United States.

International Disputes

Transboundary haze.

Haze is no longer considered a domestic problem. It has become the cause of international disputes among the neighbouring countries. Haze also migrates to the adjacent countries and thereby pollutes other countries too. One of the most recent problems takes place in Southeast Asia, which largely affects the Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore nations. In 2013, because of the forest fires in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia and the surrounding areas became shrouded in a pall of noxious fumes, smelling of coal and ash for more than one whole week, in the country’s worst environmental crisis from 1997.

Sumatra Island of Indonesia, Riau, and the Indonesian regions of Borneo, where plantation owners, fishermen, and miners set hundreds of fires in the forests for land clearing at the time of dry weather, are the primary causes of haze. Also, winds blow the most fumes across the narrow Strait of Malacca to Malaysia, though Indonesia parts are also affected. The 2015 Southeast Asian haze was the other major crisis, although there were occasions like 2006. And, 2019 haze which was less impactful compared to the three major Southeast Asian haze of 1997, 2013, 2015.

Obscuration

Haze causes issues in the terrestrial photography area, where the penetration of huge amounts of dense atmosphere can be necessary to image distant subjects. And, this also makes the visual effect of a contrast loss in the subject, due to the reason, the effect of light scattering through the haze particles. For such reasons, the colours of sunrise and sunset appear subdued on hazy days, and stars can be obscured at night. In some other cases, attenuation by haze is much greater than, toward sunset, the sun has disappeared altogether before reaching the horizon.

Haze is described as an aerial form of the Tyndall effect ; thus unlike other atmospheric effects like fog and cloud, haze is spectrally selective: shorter (which are blue) wavelengths are scattered more, and longer (either red or infrared) wavelengths are scattered less. Because of this reason, several super-telephoto lenses often incorporate coatings or yellow filters to enhance image contrast. Infrared (IR) imaging can also be used to penetrate haze over a long distance, with a combination of IR-sensitive detectors and IR-pass optical filters.

Formation of Haze

In general, the industry is a primary source of particulate matter. Industries like steel, cement, and power generation create massive amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the course of their regular operations. These particular emissions are controlled by the use of a dust collection system (which are called baghouse). These specific systems suck up the dust-laden air or fugitive dust and send it through a fabric filter (which is called a baghouse filter), which traps the dust particles, but they allow the air to pass through.

FAQs on Haze

1. Differentiate between Smog and Fog?

Smog – Smog is the combination of smoke particles and the tiny droplets of fog that contain poisonous gases, which are discharged by the burning of fossil fuels in major homes, industries, and automobiles.

Fog – The minute water particles that are suspended into the air near the earth’s surface is referred to as fog. Fog particles are produced by the condensation of water vapour in the air. Fog takes place mostly in the winter season.

Smoke + Fog = Smog (which contains poisonous gases).

2. What causes haze in houses?

Household haze is caused by various common reasons, where a few of them are given below.

Chemical compounds, which take on a gaseous form in the air, could have recently been used to fumigate the premises.

Ceiling plaster crumbles and then falls in a fine powder.

Poor vision can allow us to see hazily or differently.

Smoke from the flame can also be so fine because it looks like haze.

Steam from the sauna or cooking area can draft about a household.

3. Explain what haze is caused by?

Haze can be caused either by particulate or water vapour in the air around us. At 100% humidity, we are essentially in a cloud at ground level. Usually, Haze refers to the water vapour present in the atmosphere. Usually, particulates are termed smog, as in smoke fog (haze and fog).

4. What is dust haze?

A suspension present in the air of dust or the small sand particles, which are raised from the ground before the time of observation by a sandstorm or dust storm.

5. What is haze weather?

When the environment is hazy or fully covered with haze, it is referred to as hazy weather.

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The haze is back: What are the causes and how to protect yourself

No, you’re not hallucinating.

By Natalie Khoo

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There’s a four-letter word in the air outside right now, and no, we’re not talking about love. Quite the contrary, it’s something we all dread during the dry spells here in Malaysia: haze. This time, however, it’s not due to the usual forest fires in Indonesia, but a combination of factors including the current hot weather and monsoon transition period that is expected to last until August . 

Ahead, we break down everything to know about the present haze situation in Malaysia, including its causes, affected areas, and impact on health—plus how to protect yourself, especially in light of the upcoming Raya festivities . 

What is haze?

First things first, let’s understand what the term “haze” actually means. Haze refers to the phenomenon where air pollutants such as dust, smoke and other dry particles impair the sky’s visibility. It is caused when sunlight encounters these tiny particles in the air, which absorb light, thus reducing visibility and contrast. Haze may also appear brownish or bluish. 

Transboundary haze, which contributes to the nation’s current haze problem, happens when haze becomes more than a domestic problem. It can migrate to adjacent countries in the path of wind, leading to air pollution in those areas as well, even if haze did not first manifest there. This is one of the causes of international disputes among neighboring countries. 

What are the causes of haze? 

Common sources of pollutants that cause haze include certain farming methods (such as agricultural crop burning), traffic, industrial activities, volcanic activity and wildfires. As aforementioned, the factors contributing to the current haze in Malaysia span several of the above. 

According to Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad: “We were spared the haze for the past two or three years as there was a slowdown in economic activities due to the pandemic. But the economy is now fully reopened and at full capacity again. As such, we expect the haze to return.”

Aside from the hot weather and resumption of economic activities, peat fires, hotspots and open burning in Malaysia have also affected the air quality, the minister said . 

Northern ASEAN is on fire, purportedly due to farm clearing. We may have seen some of the haze in recent days. More than two million have been hospitalised with breathing problems in Thailand so far this year. This problem used to be down south, no longer. El Niño likely in 2023. pic.twitter.com/gliLXop2k6 — Yin Shao Loong (@yinshaoloong) April 14, 2023

Another report by Sinar Daily attributed the haze to post-Covid agricultural activities in the Mekong Subregion, which comprises Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. The wind movement has brought the polluted air from these northern Southeast Asian countries to Malaysia, which explains why our northern states are the most affected. 

What are the different classifications of air quality?

Based on the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) in Malaysia, there are five categories of air quality: 

Where are the affected areas in Malaysia?

@drzalihamustafa #haze #jerebu #demisekijang #sekijang #MalaysiaMadani #drz #johor #malaysia ♬ original sound – Dr Zaliha Mustafa

Air quality in parts of Peninsular Malaysia have reportedly dropped to unhealthy levels over the past few days, namely in Kelantan, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor. The APIMS readings showed air quality levels of 152 in Cheras , Kuala Lumpur; 152 in Segamat , Johor; 107 in Kota Bahru and 104 in Tanah Merah , Kelantan. Separately, a US-based air quality index (AQI) website reported levels of 132 in Tanjung Bungah , Penang; and 132 in Petaling Jaya , Selangor. 

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa uploaded a TikTok yesterday that showed the haze in Sekijang, Johor where buildings are almost covered by pollution and visibility is less than 200 metres.

How does haze impact health?

Short-term exposure to haze, which refers to continuous exposure to unhealthy API levels over a period of a few days, can cause several short-term effects even among healthy inviduals. Sensitive groups including people with diabetes or heart/lung disease, older adults, and children are more susceptible to these risks. (Note: There may be one to three days of lag time between exposure to haze and health effects/symptoms.)

Short-term effects:

• Irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, skin and airways
• Eye inflammation
• Throat infection
• Rashes (for babies and those with sensitive skin)
• Sneezing or coughing
• Aggravation of lung diseases
• Asthma attacks 

On the other hand, long-term exposure to haze (read: continuous exposure to high levels of pollution over several years) may cause potentially fatal effects on human he alth. Generally, Malaysia does not experience haze throughout the year, meaning that public exposure is usually short-term.

Long-term effects:

• Development of chronic diseases such as bronchitis
• Increased risk of death by cardiovascular diseases
• Reduced life expectancy

What should you do to protect yourself?

With the Raya season and holidays coming up, here are a few practical tips to keep you and your loved ones safe amidst the festivities: 

• Avoid outdoor activities, especially aerobic exercises, as they will make you breathe deeply and take in more pollutants into your lungs.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and close the doors and windows. This will help to reduce the rate of haze particles entering your home.
• Avoid activities that can produce indoor air pollutants in enclosed spaces, such as smoking.
• Keep your body hydrated. This helps your kidneys to flush out the toxins from your body more effectively.
• If available, use air-conditioners and air purifiers for air circulation and cooling. Check to make sure the air filters are clean to help keep the air indoors safe from pollutants.
• If you need to be outdoors, wear a mask. N95 masks are recommended as they are designed to keep out fine particles. Surgical masks and cloth masks do not provide adequate protection as they are mainly designed to prevent the spread of body fluids instead of haze particles. 

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