August 24, 2026 | 11:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Haze from forest fires is a "silent killer" that claims lives slowly or suddenly, said public health expert from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), Prof. Dr. Syamsul Arifin, MPd, FISPH, FISCM.
"Data from various studies show that when haze hits, hospital visits surge by up to 40 percent, especially for respiratory and heart problems," he said in Banjarbaru on Monday.
Unfortunately, he said, many people resigned to fate and view haze as a "regular disaster."
"This assumption is false and dangerous," he stressed.
He explained that haze is a collection of fine particles and pollutants in the air that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
The main component is PM2.5, particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. To put this into perspective, a human hair has a diameter of around 50–70 micrometers.
"Meaning, PM2.5 is more than 20 times smaller than our hair," he said.
Because of its miniscule size, PM2.5 is not retained by nasal hairs or upper respiratory tract mucus. These particles travel directly to the alveoli (lung air sacs) and can even penetrate the bloodstream.
Along with PM2.5, other pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are irritating and carcinogenic, are also present in a haze.
The resulting health impacts range from mild irritation to life-threatening heart attacks.
Syamsul mentioned that several vulnerable groups are at greatest risk and require extra attention due to their physiological vulnerabilities. These include infants and toddlers, pregnant women, people with asthma or lung disease, and people with heart disease.
Syamsul also provided six safety measures to protect yourself during the haze.
First, use the right mask, namely a KN95/N95 with more than 95 percent filtration for 0.3 micrometer particles.
Second, reduce outdoor activities because the more strenuous the activity, the faster and deeper the breath, resulting in a much greater dose of particles entering the lungs.
Third, close doors and windows to maintain good indoor air quality.
"Fourth, drink enough water. Fifth, rinse your eyes with clean water if they sting. Finally, seek medical attention immediately if you experience severe symptoms, such as chest pain, heart palpitations, or sudden dizziness," he explained.
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