{
  "id": 11304023,
  "title": "Experts warn PM2.5 fine particles pose health risks to vulnerable groups",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/experts-warn-pm2-5-fine-particles-pose-health-risks-to-vulnerable",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-01T23:15:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1545900/experts-warn-pm25-fine-particles-pose-health-risks-vulnerable-groups"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysian environmental experts are cautioning that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can lead to severe health issues, especially for vulnerable populations. A 2024 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health revealed that around a million premature deaths worldwide each year can be linked to short-term exposure to PM2.5 lasting from a few hours to several days. This type of pollution, generated from combustion processes, is minuscule enough to infiltrate the lungs and reach the alveolar region, where crucial gas exchange takes place. PM2.5 accounts for 2.08 percent of the total annual global deaths between 2000 and 2019. China had the highest percentage of global deaths attributable to PM2.5 at 3.2 percent in 2019. Dr Jamal Hisham Hashim, president of the Malaysian Environmental Health Practitioners Association, highlighted that vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions such as asthma, rhinitis, COPD, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and diabetes, are particularly at risk. Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia president Dr Abu Hasan Samad noted that outdoor workers, particularly those engaged in strenuous activities, face heightened exposure to haze due to increased respiration rates and depths. This additional strain on the heart, especially among older workers and those already dealing with health issues, could exacerbate the situation. Dr Abu urged employers to implement interim measures during prolonged haze episodes, such as reducing strenuous outdoor work, increasing breaks, ensuring workers have suitable respiratory protection, and encouraging adequate hydration. Vulnerable workers should ideally be assigned to indoor roles whenever possible, with proper protection and supervision. If air quality remains unhealthy, Dr Abu suggested that the Human Resources and Health ministries should issue guidelines for workplaces, potentially allowing for remote work arrangements. Financial assistance might also be necessary for affected workers, particularly informal and gig workers who could lose substantial income due to prolonged or more severe haze.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can pose serious health risks beyond respiratory problems, particularly among vulnerable groups.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}