Experts say all high-risk groups vulnerable to haze, including those with medical conditions

High-risk groups like children, older adults, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to haze, despite no single group being definitively more at risk.

Health issues aggravated by haze include asthma, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular conditions, posing serious risks for those with underlying health concerns.

Reducing exposure through wearing N95 masks and staying indoors is recommended, especially for vulnerable groups, as fine particulate matter PM2.5 worsens health outcomes.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — While haze exposure poses health risks to the general population, high-risk groups such as children, older adults and pregnant women are more vulnerable to its effects.

However, medical and health experts say no single group among those considered high-risk is necessarily more vulnerable than others, with susceptibility depending on factors such as age, underlying medical conditions and the duration and intensity of exposure.

Those with chronic lung diseases and other medical conditions are also among those who need to take precautions against haze exposure.

How haze affects high-risk groups

Universiti Malaya Faculty of Medicine’s social and preventive medicine department public health medicine specialist Dr Bala Murali Sundram said there was no single group among those considered high-risk that was more vulnerable than others.

He told Malay Mail that young children with asthma, older adults with heart or lung diseases, and pregnant women with underlying medical conditions may be especially susceptible during haze episodes.

Dr Bala, who is also the department’s Occupational and Environmental Health senior medical lecturer, said the risks vary according to age, existing medical conditions, and the duration and intensity of exposure.

“Children, especially those below five years of age, are more susceptible because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. They also breathe more air relative to their body weight and may spend more time being physically active.

“Older adults, defined in Malaysia as individuals aged 60 years and above, face increased risks because of age-related physiological changes and the higher prevalence of chronic disease,” he said, adding that haze can aggravate asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, potentially increasing the risk of hospitalisation, heart attacks and even strokes.

Pregnant women are another high-risk group, with Dr Bala saying epidemiological evidence links exposure to air pollution during pregnancy to adverse birth outcomes.

He said these include preterm birth and low birth weight.

“However, the risk depends on the timing, intensity and duration of exposure, and a brief haze episode does not necessarily result in pregnancy complications,” he noted.

Respiratory conditions and other health risks

Pantai Hospital Batu Pahat consultant internal medicine specialist, gastroenterologist and hepatologist Dr Mohamed Amin Kader said there was usually no single test to confirm an illness caused by haze exposure.

He told Malay Mail that diagnosis was based on symptoms, exposure, the patient’s medical history, underlying health conditions and clinical findings.

General practitioner Dr Boo Cheng Hau said most haze-related cases, particularly among high-risk groups, involved respiratory problems.

The former Johor assemblyman said these included acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma among children and adults, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among older adults.

“In addition, there is the issue of related allergic reactions and nasal congestion due to allergic rhinitis,” he said when contacted by Malay Mail .

Dr Boo said children could face more serious long-term effects because they would be breathing toxic gases and polluted air over a much longer period if the haze problem persisted.

Medical specialist Dr Norafiza Mohd Yasin said children with bronchial asthma, chronic respiratory illnesses or primary immunodeficiency may face a higher risk of complications.

She told Malay Mail that those undergoing chemotherapy or recovering from it may also be more vulnerable if their immune systems were suppressed.

What in haze can affect your health?

Dr Norafiza highlighted the risks associated with exposure to fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.

“The PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, worsening respiratory and cardiovascular conditions,” she cautioned, adding that pregnant women should also take precautions, as exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight.

Dr Mohamed Amin said PM2.5 particles could penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to lung infections and pneumonia among high-risk groups.

He said children, particularly those below two years old, were more vulnerable.

“As their lung capacities are not fully developed yet, the haze can also aggravate asthma and trigger worsening respiratory symptoms,” he said.

The World Health Organisation defines PM2.5 as a mixture of solid and liquid particles, with major components including sulphates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water.

It also notes that PM2.5 can originate from direct emissions as well as chemical reactions between gases in the atmosphere.

Taking the right precautions

With air quality reaching unhealthy levels, health and medical experts advise the public to take steps to reduce their exposure to haze.

Wearing an N95 respirator when going outdoors to reduce exposure.

Staying indoors as much as possible, limiting unnecessary outdoor activities and prolonged exposure.

Taking extra precautions to protect children, older adults, pregnant women and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

Monitoring air quality in their respective areas.

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尽管没有哪个群体明显更容易受到雾霾的影响，但儿童、老年人和孕妇等高危群体尤其容易受到雾霾的影响。

雾霾会加剧哮喘、呼吸系统疾病和心血管疾病等健康问题，对本身就有健康问题的人来说，这会带来严重的风险。

建议佩戴 N95 口罩并待在室内以减少接触，尤其是对于弱势群体而言，因为细颗粒物 PM2.5 会恶化健康后果。

吉隆坡，10 月 24 日讯——虽然雾霾会对普通人群的健康构成风险，但儿童、老年人和孕妇等高危人群更容易受到其影响。

然而，医学和健康专家表示，在高风险人群中，没有哪个群体必然比其他群体更容易受到感染，易感性取决于年龄、潜在疾病以及接触的持续时间和强度等因素。

患有慢性肺病和其他疾病的人也需要采取预防措施，避免接触雾霾。

雾霾如何影响高危人群

马来亚大学医学院社会与预防医学系公共卫生医学专家巴拉·穆拉里·桑德拉姆博士表示，在高风险人群中，没有哪个群体比其他群体更容易受到伤害。

他告诉《马来邮报》，患有哮喘的幼儿、患有心脏或肺部疾病的老年人以及患有基础疾病的孕妇在雾霾期间可能特别容易受到影响。

巴拉博士同时也是该部门的职业与环境健康高级医学讲师，他表示，风险因年龄、现有疾病以及接触的持续时间和强度而异。

“儿童，尤其是五岁以下的儿童，更容易感染，因为他们的肺部和免疫系统仍在发育。此外，他们相对于自身体重需要呼吸更多的空气，并且可能花更多的时间进行体育活动。”

“在马来西亚，老年人的定义是60岁及以上的人群，由于与年龄相关的生理变化和慢性病患病率较高，他们面临着更高的风险，”他说道，并补充说，雾霾会加剧哮喘、呼吸系统和心血管疾病，可能会增加住院、心脏病发作甚至中风的风险。

孕妇是另一个高危人群，巴拉博士表示，流行病学证据表明，怀孕期间接触空气污染与不良妊娠结局有关。

他说，这些包括早产和低出生体重。

“然而，风险取决于暴露的时间、强度和持续时间，短暂的雾霾事件并不一定会导致妊娠并发症，”他指出。

呼吸系统疾病和其他健康风险

峇株巴辖班台医院内科顾问专家、肠胃病学家兼肝病学家穆罕默德·阿明·卡德尔医生表示，通常没有单一的检测方法可以确诊由雾霾引起的疾病。

他告诉《马来邮报》，诊断依据症状、接触史、患者的病史、潜在健康状况和临床发现。

全科医生 Boo Cheng Hau 博士表示，大多数与雾霾相关的病例，尤其是在高危人群中，都涉及呼吸系统问题。

这位前柔佛州议员表示，这些疾病包括儿童和成人的支气管哮喘急性发作，以及老年人的慢性阻塞性肺病。

“此外，还存在过敏反应和过敏性鼻炎引起的鼻塞问题，”他在接受《马来邮报》采访时表示。

布博士表示，如果雾霾问题持续下去，儿童可能会面临更严重的长期影响，因为他们将在更长的时间内呼吸有毒气体和受污染的空气。

医学专家诺拉菲扎·莫哈末·亚辛医生表示，患有支气管哮喘、慢性呼吸系统疾病或原发性免疫缺陷的儿童可能面临更高的并发症风险。

她告诉《马来邮报》，正在接受化疗或正在从化疗中恢复的人，如果免疫系统受到抑制，也可能更容易受到感染。

雾霾中的哪些成分会影响您的健康？

Norafiza 博士强调了接触细颗粒物（PM2.5）所带来的风险。

她警告说：“PM2.5颗粒可以深入肺部，并可能进入血液，加重呼吸系统和心血管疾病。”她还补充说，孕妇也应该采取预防措施，因为接触PM2.5与不良妊娠结局有关，包括早产和低出生体重。

穆罕默德·阿明博士表示，PM2.5颗粒可以深入肺部，导致高危人群发生肺部感染和肺炎。

他说，儿童，特别是两岁以下的儿童，更容易受到伤害。

他说：“由于他们的肺活量尚未完全发育，雾霾还会加重哮喘，引发呼吸道症状恶化。”

世界卫生组织将 PM2.5 定义为固体和液体颗粒的混合物，其主要成分包括硫酸盐、硝酸盐、氨、氯化钠、黑碳、矿物粉尘和水。

报告还指出，PM2.5 可能来源于直接排放，也可能来源于大气中气体之间的化学反应。

采取正确的预防措施

由于空气质量已达到不健康水平，健康和医学专家建议公众采取措施减少接触雾霾。

外出时佩戴N95口罩以减少暴露风险。

尽可能待在室内，限制不必要的户外活动和长时间暴露在外。

采取额外预防措施，保护儿童、老年人、孕妇以及患有呼吸系统或心脏疾病的人。

监测各自区域的空气质量。

专家警告：雾霾不仅会刺激肺部，还会刺激皮肤和眼睛。

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