Forest fires occur every year in Indonesia and its effects can be felt throughout the year locally and internationally. In the past decade, the year 2006 has witnessed the worst case of forest fire in Indonesia. The worst case of forest fires in Indonesia’s recorded history occurred in 1997.
In Indonesia
Following the 1997 fires, an estimated 20 million people in Indonesia suffered from respiratory problems, with 19,800-48,100 premature mortalities (Heil, 2007). In severely affected areas, more than 90% of people had respiratory symptoms and elderly individuals suffered a serious deterioration in overall health. (Kunii et al, 2002)
According to the Board for the Control of Environment Impacts in Palangkaraya, during the 2006 forest fires, in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, air quality was rated as ‘unhealthy, very unhealthy or dangerous’ on 81% of days from September-November 2006. In October 2006, 30 of 31 days were ‘dangerous’ representing a clear health threat. Additionally, thick smoke impairs visibility, causing an increase in traffic accidents, and a general lack of public health service and the high cost of health insurance means that treatment is not typically received for smoke-related ailments.
In Singapore
According to the National Environment Agency, the highest Pollution Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) reading on record in Singapore is 226 (unhealthy) in September 1997. Findings from the health impact surveillance during the 1997 haze period showed that there was a 30% increase in attendances for haze-related conditions. There were increases of 12% of upper respiratory tract illness, 19% asthma, and 26% rhinitis (Ministry of Health Statistics). During the same period there was also an increase in accident and emergency attendances for haze-related complaints. There was no significant increase in hospital admissions or in mortality. This showed that the health effects from the 1997 smoke haze in Singapore were generally mild as compared to the areas closer to the fire sites.
However, people and the media report numerous impairments to their daily activities. A survey I did on 87 Singaporeans, I asked how disruptive the recent cases have been to their lives. The answers revealed that on the scale of 1 to 10, where 10 means very disruptive, The respondents reported a mean number of 7.4. (Refer to Survey)