Hazardous Smoke Effects for Health

One of the disasters that regularly visit parts of our country is haze. The haze itself indicates that the level of air pollution is not normal. Many things can trigger the appearance of smog. In big cities, the main sources of smoke haze are motor vehicle and industrial fumes. Meanwhile, the haze disaster that struck parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan was generally caused by land burning. Generally, this event occurs when the dry season arrives. Haze is a type of air pollution that results from a mixture of several gases and particles that react with sunlight. The gases involved in this process are carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO2), sulfur oxides (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and ozone. Meanwhile, the particles contained in the smog are smoke itself, dust, sand and pollen.

How dangerous is the smoke haze for us?

Here are the short-term effects of living in an environment with poor air quality, such as smog.

• Difficulty breathing and lung damage

The high concentration of smoke in the air will make it difficult to breathe and can cause lung damage. This is especially so for those who do a lot of outdoor activities. Research shows that inhaling this haze in the long run can increase the risk of death from lung diseases such as lung infections especially in children, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

• Cough and throat irritation

When exposed to smoke exposure, a person can experience coughing and throat irritation. Generally this complaint lasts for several hours. However, its effects on the human respiratory system can last even though the symptoms have disappeared.

• Worsen the symptoms of lung disease

Asthma and COPD risk become worse if inhaled haze. Research in Thailand shows that during the haze season, the number of visits to the emergency department related to the recurrence of symptoms of asthma and COPD also increased. This is because the substances contained in the smog are irritative and can make the lungs inflamed.

• Impact on heart function

Particles in the smog are at risk of infiltrating the flow of human blood so that it can be bad for the heart. This happens because the particles in the smog are usually very small, which is less than 10 micrometers. The smaller the particle size, the greater the risk that can be caused. Research also shows that long-term smog exposure is closely related to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and plaque buildup in blood vessels. This is thought to be related to the inflammatory process that occurs due to exposure to particles in the smog.

• Bad for the eyes

The bad effects of smog can also cause eye irritation, due to dust and irritative substances in the smog. For that, provide eye drops and do not forget to use glasses when traveling outside the home.

• Risk of lung cancer

If someone is exposed to smog in the long term, then that person has a higher risk for suffering from lung cancer, even if he is not a smoker. Because smog contains many cancer-causing particles (carcinogens).

• Impact on the skin

Not only menimbukan disruption in internal organs, such as the respiratory tract and heart, air pollution and smog can also damage the skin. Haze can damage the skin by causing irritation and inflammation in the skin tissue. Research shows that smog can increase the risk of premature skin aging, acne, skin cancer, and worsening symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.

It should be noted that the adverse effects of smog vary in each individual. Infants, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the effects of smog. For this reason, limit outdoor activities when the haze season comes. If you have to do activities in an open space, try the activities carried out not too draining. In addition, wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose.