Scientists from Malaysia and Singapore warn of haze's dire consequences

ADRIAN DAVID New Straits Times 15 Sep 15;

KUALA TERENGGANU: Even the birds and bees are affected by the haze - that atmospheric mixture of moisture, dust, smoke, and vapour that diminishes visibility and affects breathing of living organisms.

The severity of the current haze has prompted several scientific researchers to call for an urgent need to understand its impact on the ecological land and marine stems.

They also called for a coordinated response plan and effective management to deal with the hazards of open burning of plantations and forests.

Conservation scientist Dr Gopalasamy Reuben Clements said that apart from acid deposition, air pollution, and reduced visibility and ozone, the haze had detrimental effects on the ecological and aquatic systems.

“The acidic deposition of chemicals like volatile organic compounds, ammonium sulphate, nitrates, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia greatly affect living organisms of animals and plants in freshwater and saltwater systems of rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and seas.

“Anything that breathes air (oxygen) is affected. The toxic chemicals get dissolved in watery environments, thus, reducing the oxygen content.

“Even corals will be affected, what more the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere,” said Reuben, who is also an associate professor of the Keyir Research Institute of the University of Malaysia Terengganu.

Reuben is also the founder of RIMBA, consisting of a group of biologists conducting research on threatened species and ecosystems with the ultimate aim of conserving natural habitats and ecosystems.

“The damaging effect of the haze on the environment can deplete forests, crops and plantations, resulting in drought,” he said at the International Ecotourism and Marine Tourism seminar at the Primula Beach Hotel.

Reuben warned that severe depletion of oxygen levels could cause deaths among humans, animals and plants.

“In short, Reuben said prolonged exposure to the haze can reduce life expectancy, especially of infants, pregnant mothers and people with breathing-related illnesses.
“While outdoor and recreational activities will cease, the increased concentrations of certain heavy metals such as aluminium, nickel, cadmium and mercury in watery environments can poison fish and shellfish that are important in human consumption.

“In terrestrial systems, the deposition of nitrates can interrupt nutrient cycling, resulting in increased plant uptake of heavy metals and nitrates, which in turn increases the morbidity and possibly mortality of animals eating them,” he warned.

Similar views were shared by Dr Zeehan Jaafar, a lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Science, and Dr Loh Tse-Lynn, a postdoctoral research associate at the Daniel P. Haerther Centre for Conservation and Research.

Zeehan said the unprecedented levels of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia prompted him to critically evaluate the potential impacts of biomass burning and haze on marine ecosystems.

“Crop residue and forests in many tropical countries are burnt to clear land for agriculture.

“In Indonesia, annual biomass burning activities cause a widespread smoke-haze phenomenon that affects human health, quality of life and incomes locally and in neighbouring countries.

“While the impacts of these large-scale burning on terrestrial and atmospheric habitats are immediate and obvious, little is known about how adjacent coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves are affected,” she said.

Zeehan added that marine ecosystems of Southeast Asia were global hotspots for biodiversity and support many species unique to the region.

Natural resources, she said, derived from these areas sustain local economies and meet global demands.

“Yet, many marine ecosystems in this region are over-exploited and highly threatened.

“The reduction in sunlight from the haze, and the mass deposition of particulates from forest fires into coastal habitats are likely to have a negative impact on these marine ecosystems. Interactions between these primary impacts are likely to further damage these already imperilled ecosystems,” she said.

Loh said that the land, air and sea were highly interconnected.

“Being aware of both direct and indirect impacts to marine habitats help us safeguard these natural resources.

“We call upon scientific institutions, non-governmental agencies, government bodies and policy-makers in the region to recognise the importance of the haze as an additional stressor to marine environments.

“In addition, we propose a coordinated regional response plan for monitoring and studying the impacts of burning and haze to marine ecosystems,” she said.