KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing haze in Southeast Asia has pushed air quality to hazardous levels, with children especially vulnerable to heightened physiological and developmental risks from airborne pollution, according to an expert.
Children are particularly vulnerable because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. They also inhale more air relative to their body weight, with physical exertion further increasing their exposure to PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs, Sapna Shridhar Patil, Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Taylor's University, told Xinhua.
"Haze can disrupt health and learning. Haze may cause coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue and breathing difficulties. Even relatively mild symptoms can affect a student's concentration, classroom participation and attendance," she said.
Beyond physical ailments, missing sports and social activities, spending prolonged periods indoors and worrying about worsening symptoms may also affect children's emotional wellbeing, Sapna said.
Malaysia and other countries in the region have seen poor air quality in recent weeks due to prolonged hot and dry weather and haze resulting from numerous fires. ■