Illustration: Haze emerged due to forest fire. (Image via Phys.org)

Medical warning, fire haze more 'lethal' than cigar's smoke

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Medical and Health
Sep 15, 2019
1861
Recently, Malaysia and Indonesia are at each other's throat due to the haze that has been covering regions from both countries. Malaysia accused Indonesia of being incompetent in handling the haze which was originated from more than a thousand hotspots in Sumatera and Kalimantan, a statement denied by Indonesian officials.

While officials from Indonesia and Malaysia are blaming each other for the haze, people from both countries are suffering from it.

Experts from the Indonesian country pointed out that compared to the cigar’s haze, fire haze is “thousand times” more dangerous both in terms of its effect on physical health and environmental health.

“Cigar’s smoke only causes harm for those who inhale it (passive smokers). Meanwhile, fire haze harms not only mankind but also biodiversity and other sectors such as economic and education,” said Tengku Ariful Amri, Ecological Expert at Universitas Riau.

Indonesia, as the world's fourth-biggest population in the world, also sits as the world's third-biggest when it comes to cigar consumption, beaten only by China and India.

Amri gave three drawbacks to fire haze which pollutes the environment, endangers human respiratory health, and disrupts the Indonesian economy. The pollution is due to particles led by the wind causing it to widespread to nations.

However, if one region does not have enough trees, the pollution might spread even worse, to the suburban areas. The water system might also be at risk due to the hazardous particles brought by the haze. These polluted water and air pose several illnesses to those who consume or are exposed to it

In brief, Amri concluded his statement that forest fire does nothing but harms and losses.

Source: https://m.liputan6.com/health/read/620877/asap-kebakaran-hutan-1000-kali-lebih-bahaya-dibanding-asap-rokok

ASEAN , Haze , Malaysia , Indonesia , Medical , Economic , Education , Dangers