Health concern over haze in Songkhla

SONGKHLA, Aug 16 (TNA) – Songkhla public health office warns of health issues concerning haze from forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra Island. Deputy chief of the provincial health office, Wiset Sirinthornsophon said the province has been blanketed in haze while the Department of Pollution Control measured the dust particle level in Songkhla at 101 microgramme per cubic metre (µg/m³), which remains under the safety standard at 120 microgram per cubic meter. However, this level of particle dusts can affect people’s health, particularly vulnerable groups such as small children, pregnant women, patients with chronic diseases. They were advised to be careful. Hospitals under the authority of the provincial public health office were ordered to prepare for an increase in the number of patients with respiratory illnesses. (TNA)