Transboundary haze precaution for border towns

 

TRANSBOUNDARY haze pollution is a significant environmental challenge for ASEAN member countries, as well as many other nations worldwide. In particular, the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion face recurring haze pollution during the dry season each year. As such, they have to unite in controlling haze air pollution as part of providing healthcare services to their people.

Air pollution in this case arises from smoke caused by forest fires, the burning of vegetation to reclaim farmland, land preparation for commercial crops, landfill fires, and waste incineration. The smoke contains particles as small as 0.2 microns, mixed with dust, fine particulates, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other gases. These particles easily travel through the air and can cross borders, depending on their density and mass.

Some townships in Myanmar, particularly in Shan State along the borders, experience severe smoke pollution during the open season each year. This transboundary haze contains hazardous gases, posing significant health risks to residents in border towns. The pollution also harms plants and animals, disrupts ecosystems, and exacerbates environmental degradation. Additionally, wildfires and farmland reclamation through slash-and-burn practices lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water scarcity.

In history, one of the worst incidents of transboundary haze pollution occurred during the forest fires in Indonesia from 1997 to 1998, which affected approximately 2.2 million hectares of forest. Around 40,000 people sought hospital care for air pollution-related health issues. Surveys estimated that these fires released between 3,000 and 9,400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Currently, local authorities and departmental personnel raise public awareness about the dangers and impacts of air pollution in towns, villages, schools, and public areas through talk shows and the distribution of pamphlets. Only by broadening their horizons can people avoid actions such as setting fire to forests and farmlands for land preparation, and gain the knowledge needed to prevent transboundary haze pollution.

However, a single country is unable to attempt to control transboundary haze pollution. Relevant countries sharing borders have to collaborate in controlling air pollution. These countries have to cooperate in the implementation of the agreement on transboundary haze pollution by using agricultural waste as natural fertilizers, substituting a slush and burn system with other proper agricultural techniques suitable for relevant regions and taking preventive measures against negligent fire as much as they can.

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