By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE haze that has been looming over Guam for the past three days is described as “dry dust from Asia.” Because of this and not knowing what exactly is in the dust, or haze, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and the Guam Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense issued a haze advisory at 12 noon yesterday.
The haze advisory will remain in effect for 48 hours from the time it was issued. The advisory will expire tomorrow noon if it is not extended.
Residents with respiratory ailments and heart problems are advised to stay indoors and reduce physical exertion or outdoor activity during this period.
“Anyone suffering from respiratory illness should seek appropriate medical advice if they are affected by the reduced quality of outdoor air,” the advisory read.
The haze will not just affect people with existing health problems. According to GEPA spokesperson Tammy Andersen, the haze may have an effect on healthy people.
“Even people who are healthy need to make sure that they are aware of the haze and that they don’t go outside and do all the physical activity that they might do,” Andersen added. “See if there is a chance that you could go to the gym instead because you never know what you are breathing in. We know these particles are in the air and people should be wary of them.”
The effect the haze may have on a person is dependent on the size and composition of the particles, the levels and duration of exposure, and the age and sensitivity of the exposed person, the advisory read.
If you are exposed, the symptoms may include sore throat, persistent cough, burning eyes, wheezing, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, a general lack of energy, tightness in the chest, and chest pains.
Meanwhile, as of 4:30 p.m. yesterday, the National Weather Service in Tiyan reported that the light smog and haze persists over the Mariana Islands. Reports to NWS from Guam and Saipan state that the haze comes with an unpleasant odor.
“These conditions are expected to persist while the trade winds remain weak over the area at least for another day or two,” the NWS advisory read.
Recently, wind flow patterns across the north pacific east of Japan have been unusually favorable to bringing winter-time Asian smog across northern Japan and southward into the Marianas Islands, according to NWS.
The winter soot from that area, combined with a high pressure over Korea and Japan with a low pressure system east of Japan, assisted in a persistent north to south flow that typically affects the Marianas once or twice a year in the late winter and early spring, NWS stated.
A temperature inversion, according to NWS, is what is keeping the pollution, or haze, close to the ground. Additionally, the light winds and local pollution are keeping the smog in the area.