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HONG KONG - From asthma attacks and sore throats to scarring and abnormal development of lungs in children, Southeast Asia's annual haze is a health menace that affects millions of people and costs regional economies dearly.
Apart from fuelling a surge in work absenteeism and medical costs, choking smoke from Indonesia's forest and peat-bog fires since mid-August has scared off tourists and hurt airlines, hotels and shop owners in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
This year's haze was among the worst in a decade and health experts say the effects of repeated exposure grow over time and can even stunt lung growth in children.
"I think that is a very likely outcome of these repeated intermediate to long-term exposures of the populations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore," said Anthony Hedley, professor of community medicine at the University of Hong Kong.
The fires, lit deliberately by farmers and plantation owners, emit particulates, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, all of which can injure the heart and lungs.
- REUTERS
