The health & economic impacts of ambient air quality in Malaysia
Air pollution in Malaysia is caused by emissions from a growing number of sources from industrial manufacturing, power generation, vehicles, and open burning activities. Additionally, biomass burning and forest fires in the country and in neighbouring countries contribute to the seasonal transboundary haze incidents that often cause a spike in air pollution from July to October have not been sufficiently addressed. A new study by CREA and Greenpeace Malaysia found that an estimated 32,000 avoidable deaths occur in Malaysia every year as a result of ambient air pollution. The estimated annual economic cost as a result of healthcare and medical spending and losses in economic productivity following premature death is estimated at MYR 303 billion (US$ 73 billion) — or 20% of the country’s GDP in 2019.
