Human and environmental implications

The harmful effects of regional haze episodes have caused considerable concern to the government authorities and the public in Brunei. Effects of the haze include a drastic 

Benzene 60 Carcinogen, anemia, immune system depressant 

During a two month period covering the haze episode from September-October 1997, a substantial increase in respiratory morbidity of both outpatients (ODP) visits and inpatient (IPD) admissions was observed in the study areas of southern Thailand in comparison with the control area of northern Thailand where haze episodes have not been registered. The increases were 26% vs. 18% (south vs. control area) for all respiratory visits, 33% vs. 26% for all respiratory admissions, 36% vs. 18% for pneumonia admissions, 40% vs. 28% for bronchitis/COPD admissions, and 12% vs. 9% for hospitalized asthma although this category is not significant (Table 8). 

the net health impacts from the 1997 haze are 8% and 7% increases in respiratory visits and admissions, respectively. It is interesting to observe that the percentage of net haze impacts is higher in two specific respiratory diseases, pneumonia and bronchitis/COPD. From this finding and the monthly report of respiratory morbidity, the increase during the 1997 haze would be approximately 45,000 visits and 1,500 admissions in southern Thailand. 

Regression analysis demonstrates the significant associations between all categories of monthly respiratory admissions andmonthly PM o levels. The effects of monthly PM o(for each 1 /xgm )were about 85, 28, 13, and 13 monthly admissions for all respiratory, pneumonia, bronchitis/COPD, and asthma, respectively. The 

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