Masks needed to combat haze

Masks needed to combat haze

SINGAPORE (Agencies): The haze that has enveloped most of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia has reached such critical levels that an expert recommended yesterday special masks be worn to minimize its ill-effects.

Rajasekhar Bala, a lecturer in the National University of Singapore's environmental engineering program, said special "electrostatically-treated three-layered" masks traditionally used to shield people from dangerous fumes in industrial plants were necessary to keep out the haze.

The haze, caused by smoke from forest fires in Indonesia, has sparked an increase in respiratory problems among people in the region.

Malaysia will declare a state of emergency if smoke haze covering the country hits critical levels, the national Bernama news agency quoted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying yesterday.

He did not specify what levels would result in an emergency.