Southeast Asia's bad air killing thousands: WHO

The haze that has shrouded parts of Southeast Asia this month is just one visible element of a much larger problem that kills hundreds of thousands of people in the region every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Air in major Southeast Asian and Chinese cities ranks among the worst in the world and contributes to the deaths of about 500,000 people annually, said Michal Krzyzanowski, an air quality specialist at the WHO's European Center for Environment and Health in Bonn, Germany.

Drifting from raging forest fires in Indonesia caused Malaysia to declare a state of emergency last week in two areas outside Kuala Lumpur and the closure of all scores of schools and workplaces. Parts of Thailand were also blanketed in the haze.

The emergency in Malaysia was lifted after a few days as shifting winds reduced the haze. But meteorologists are predicting a new cloud will hover over parts of Malaysia and possibly Singapore next week.

Malaysian officials said hospitals reported a 150 percent increase in breathing problems and seven people who had a history of respiratory problems reportedly died during the haze period. The government could not confirm if the smoky air was to blame for the deaths.

The haze, blamed on illegal dry-season burning to clear land in Indonesia, is an annual problem. It peaked in 1997-98, when several countries were blanketed in smoke and complained loudly.

Studies that period showed most affected countries reported increased outpatient hospital visits and admissions and that Malaysia experienced a higher number of deaths on days with the worst haze, said Michael Brauer, a researcher from the University of British Columbia who studied the problem.

WHO's Krzyzanowski said fine particles, including those released from fires, are a major contributor to respiratory problems, especially in children, the elderly and people with existing illnesses. He said more cases may be reported during smoggy periods, but day-to-day pollution is a far larger concern.

"Even though it is very spectacular and acute, it will be taken under control," Krzyzanowski said. "Traffic-related pollution, industry and criminal burning of wood and coal and solid materials is causing a permanent high pollution level."

People asthma are more prone to attacks on days with heavier pollution and dirty air can also contribute to acute respiratory infections -- a major killer in children under five in developing countries, he said.