Haze

Description

1) Very fine solid or liquid particles dispersed through the atmosphere. Haze decreases visibility. Atmospheric haze can be caused by dust, smoke or other pollutants. Very dense haze, or combination of smoke and fog, is called smog. See also Air pollutant.

2) An area of decreased transparency in an otherwise clear sheet or varnish layer. The cloudy region may be caused by fine cracks or moisture. See also Bloom.

Synonyms and Related Terms

smog; pollution; cloudiness

Risks

• Atmospheric haze may cause respiratory problems.

Resources and Citations

• Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Wikipedia,: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haze (accessed Nov. 30, 2004)