Cases of asthma and bronchial infections have soared in recent years due to reduced air quality.
The rapid industrialization of Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta region in the 1980s and 90s, along with increasing development in Zhuhai are major contributors.
The appearance and continued worsening of this phenomenon may possibly be explained by the rapid increase in the number of factories across the border.
[1] Since tens of thousands of people in Macau live and work in close proximity to busy roads, this presents a major health risk to city residents.
Pollution is dramatically harming not only the health of citizens of Macau but also its economy, particularly relating to the ability to attract skilled foreign labour.