"In general, haze could affect the health of anyone, regardless of whether they are healthy or sick," Head of the Health Research and Development Department of the Health Ministry Tjandra Yoga Aditama affirmed here, Thursday.
Haze is particularly harmful to people suffering from pulmonary and heart disorders, children, and the elderly, he noted, referring to the haze produced by forest fires that are currently ongoing in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Direct contact with haze could trigger local irritation in the skin, eyes, mouth, throat, and nose.
Haze can aggravate asthma and chronic bronchitis, as well as cause respiratory infections.
Pollutant particles from the haze can contaminate uncovered water or food.
Children, elderly, and those will lower immunity are prone to diseases triggered by haze.
"Health problems will usually surface after someone has been exposed to haze for prolonged periods of time," he pointed out.
In the meantime, haze produced by wildfires has affected the health of 3,373 residents of Riau Province.
Of the total, as many as 2,712 people were diagnosed with respiratory infections, 84 with pneumonia, 81 with asthma, 162 with eye irritation, and 344 with skin irritation. (WDY)
: I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
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