A breath of foul air
This concern is echoed by Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environment at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) senior lecturer Dr Chung Jing Xiang, who emphasised that while both are detrimental, the haze presents a notably greater threat to human health.
'Our region's proximity to the equator results in high UVI levels, as we receive direct sunlight almost year-round; however, haze poses a more serious threat, leading to respiratory issues,' said Dr Chung.
He explained that haze consists of pollutant particles, commonly referred to as Particulate Matter (PM).
'These particles have the capacity to scatter ultraviolet (UV) light, resulting in reduced light reaching the atmosphere where people are located,' he said.
To illustrate, Dr Chung used an analogy.
'You can liken it to diving in the ocean.
'If the water is murky, then less light will penetrate the ocean floor.'
The climate and weather researcher explained that likewise, the air is currently unclear due to haze, resulting in reduced sunlight reaching the Earth's surface.
Consequently, this indicates that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is also diminished, as UV is a form of 'light'.
He said that while it is pleasant to be outdoors without the risk of sunburn from elevated UV rays, he advises people to prioritise their health by steering clear of poor air quality.
This is because a high UVI often correlates with a low (good) Air Quality Index (AQI), and vice versa, highlighting a trade-off where cleaner air means higher UV exposure, and hazy conditions (lower UV) mean poor air quality.
Adding to this, National Antarctica Research Centre climatologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah noted that the maximum UV radiation typically occurs around midday, with its intensity depending on the thickness of cloud cover.
'Thick clouds can reflect much of the sun's radiation back into the atmosphere, reducing UV exposure to the ground where people are,' he said.
'Being in the tropics, UV levels are generally higher than in temperate countries like Europe,' he added while referring to the high UV index recorded in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The climatologist expressed concern that haze poses a greater threat due to its inclusion of PM2.5 pollutants – minute particles that can be easily inhaled by humans, leading to significant health risks for the lungs.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) website, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, recorded an extremely high UV index of 13 yesterday, particularly between noon and 1pm.
'The UV intensity in Malaysia is generally highest during the months of December, January and February,' said its department director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip.
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