Tackling the health impact of smoke haze in Southeast Asia (HEAL-HAZE)

This cooperative research project involving partners from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos aims assess the effectiveness of climate change adaptation interventions intended to strengthen community resilience to wildfire smoke in Southeast Asia, and increase their adoption and implementation in the region to protect children’s health.

Globally, seven million people die each year because of air pollution, of which 650,000 are children. One third of these preventable deaths occur in Southeast Asia. Smoke haze from wildfires (i.e. forest, peat and agricultural fires) is an increasing public health threat to which children are particularly vulnerable for both physiologic and behavioural reasons.

Climate change is the underlying cause of the prolonged dry and hot conditions that have increased the risk of extreme wildfires and smoke haze in Southeast Asia. However, there is currently limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions aiming to reduce the impact of wildfires on children.

The HEAL-HAZE project is a partnership between local research teams with integrated policy and community connections in four of the most affected countries in the region (Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos) and experts from Australia with extensive experience in dealing with the public health and early life impacts of wildfires.

Funded by: East Asia Science and Innovation Area Joint Research Program (e-Asia JRP)

UC project team: Sotiris Vardoulakis, Nigel Goodman, Enembe Okokon and Gopika Indu

External team members: Fay Johnston, Geoffrey Morgan, Bin Jalaludin, Ivan Hanigan, Luke Knibbs, Amanda Wheeler, Gavin Pereira, Marta Yebra, Penelope Jones, Nina Lazarevic, Amita Bansal, Nigel Goodman, Nicolas Cherbuin, Christopher Nolan, Richard Broom, Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, Lai Nguen Huy, Kraichat Tantrakarnapa, Suparat Phuanukoonnon, Wissanupong Kliengchuay, Tippawan Prapamontol, Sawaeng Kawichai, Ittipol Pawarmart, Budi Haryanto, Indang Trihandini, Nurul Winarni, Al Asyary, Nanda Riska, Ivanie Destila, Keonakhone Khounvilay, Keophusone Phonehalath, Vannak Ann, Vincent Herbreteau, Sreang Kosal 

Jalaludin B, Garden FL, Chrzanowska A, Haryanto B, Cowie CT, Lestari F, Morgan G, Mazumdar S, Metcalf K, Marks GB. Associations Between Ambient Particulate Air Pollution and Cognitive Function in Indonesian Children Living in Forest Fire-Prone Provinces. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2022 Jan;34(1):96-105. Doi: 10.1177/10105395211031735