THE thick smog that continues to choke Malaysia and the rest of the region is a killer. It kills through heart attacks, lung infections and cancer. A foreign study found that outdoor air pollution had contributed significantly to premature deaths around the world. And, the health impacts of air pollution are costly. Air pollution is responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths in the European Union every year, according to one report. At the same time, allergies, as well as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, result in extra medication, hospitalisation and millions of lost working days. Health damage in the EU from air pollution was estimated at between €330 billion (RM1.6 trillion) and €940 billion in 2010 alone. These alarming statistics should motivate Indonesia and countries surrounding it to step up action to tackle the worsening haze situation.
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