The neglected deadly health hazard

Jakarta, April 4 2017 - Air pollution in the Greater Jakarta region is as much as five times higher than the maximum “safe” level recommended by the World Health Organisation, according to data collected by Greenpeace.

Greenpeace Indonesia monitored the air quality in five areas in February and March - Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. None of them met WHO standards on air quality. In most areas, the air didn’t even meet the weaker Indonesian National Ambient Air Quality standards.

People living in greener areas, with more vegetation, did not escape as dangerous levels of air pollution were measured there too.

The air quality was recorded at 19 locations in Greater Jakarta, and measurements taken of the level of PM2.5. These minute particles, smaller than 2.5 μg, are particularly harmful to human health as they are small enough to enter the bloodstream and are carcinogenic. Other diseases caused by air pollution are respiratory infections, heart disease and strokes.

In most of the monitored locations, the daily level of PM2.5 was very high and far beyond the WHO recommended levels for human health and the lower Indonesian standards, especially during the last week of February and last week of March.

The monitoring by Greenpeace revealed PM2.5 levels which were 3.8 times WHO limits in Parung, and 5.3 times worse in WarungBuncit.

In only four monitored locations (less than 20% of areas monitored) did the air quality meet the lower National Ambient Air Quality Standard. These areas were Setiabudi, PermataHijau, UtanKayu.

In some locations which are physically greener with more vegetation, namely Kebagusan, Cibubur and Depok, the air quality is still very poor. The air pollution in Cibubur was as much as three times worse than the national standard, and nine times higher than WHO’s recommended limit. The air pollution in Kebagusan was four times higher than WHO’s limit, or 1.5 higher than national standards.

Equally important, in 15 monitored locations, hourly levels of PM2.5 hourly levels were far higher than both WHO and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. There were very few times when the air quality in Greater Jakarta could be considered healthy, according to WHO guidelines (see Appendix 1). In other words, the people of Greater Jakarta are living with dangerous air pollution levels all the time.

BondanAndriyanu as Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia said: “The people of Greater Jakarta are being poisoned by the air in the city and no-one is free from this, not even those who live in greener parts of the city.

“Air pollution affects all of us, but particularly children and those with respiratory problems. We are calling on the Governor to make this his top priority so that we can all be sure that the air we breathe is not killing us.”

Air pollution poses a serious health risk to Indonesians. In 2013, it was estimated that 190 people died prematurely every day as a result of air pollution. As the air quality deteriorates, the death rate will rise.

The air pollution is being driven by several factors, particularly the burning of fossil fuels which are responsible for some of the most toxic emissions found in polluted air. It is also affected by transport, the burning of waste and local industry. The levels of PM2.5 in the Jakarta region show that air quality is being damaged by coal-fired power plants, even when they are hundreds of kilometres away.

Table 1. The comparison between WHO standard, the Indonesian National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and Air Quality in various locations in Greater Jakarta (February 28 2017)

Location / Level of PM 2.5 24 Hours (µg/m3) / Ratio to WHO Standard / Ratio to National Standard
Tambun / 81 / 3,24 / 1.25
Parung / 97 / 3,88 / 1,49
Setiabudi / 60 / 2,40 / 0,92
Citayam / 89 / 3,56 / 1,37
Permata Hijau / 58 / 2,32 / 0,89
Antasarl / 67 / 2,68 / 1,03
Wr Bunclt / 134 / 5,36 / 2,06
Kebon Jeruk / 78 / 3,12 / 1,20
Kedoya / 83 / 3,32 / 1,25
Ciledug / 79 / 3,16 / 1,22
Utan Kayu / 65 / 2,60 / 1,00
Cilandak / 88 / 3,52 / 1,35
Kebagusan / 102 / 4,08 / 1,57
Gandul, Depok / 132 / 5,28 / 2,03
Kukusan, Depok / 97 / 3,88 / 1,49
Jonggol / 68 / 2,72 / 1,05
Clkunir / 97 / 3,88 / 1,49
Jatibening / 105 / 4,20 / 1,62
Cibubur / 225 / 9,04 / 3,48
WHO Standard PM 2.5 (µg/m3) in 24 Hours / 25
National Standard PM 2.5 (µg/m3) in 24 Hours / 65

Sources: WHO (2014)- , Government Regulation No. 41/1999, and Air Quality Monitoring Report by Greenpeace Indonesia

By combining the data of annual PM2.5levels and the risk analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Project, which is conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Greenpeace has calculated the increased death rate from specific diseases at different levels of annual PM2.5which can be seen in Figure 1 below. [2]

The calculation using the average level of PM2.5 in February and March 2017 showed the increased death rate from specific diseases which can be seen in Table 2 below.

Table 2.The increasing death rate due to specific diseases in Greater Jakarta (%)

Location / Level of PM 2.5 (µg/m3) / Increased Risk of Death by Cause
Acute Respiratory Disease In Children / Chronic Lung Disease / Heart disease / Lung cancer / Stroke
Tarnbun / 60.3 / 58% / 26% / 86% / 35% / 119%
Parurg / 46.6 / 43% / 21% / 77% / 28% / 102%
Setiabudi / 59.4 / 57% / 25% / 85% / 24% / 118%
Citayam / 73.5 / 73% / 30% / 93% / 41% / 131%
Permata Hijau / 40.3 / 35% / 19% / 71% / 25% / 90%
Antasari / 40.3 / 35% / 19% / 71% / 25% / 90%
Warung Buncit / 76.8 / 77% / 31% / 94% / 43% / 134%
Kebon jeruk / 45.9 / 42% / 21% / 76% / 28% / 100%
Kedoya / 47.5 / 44% / 22% / 78% / 29% / 104%
Ciledug / 54.1 / 51% / 24% / 82% / 32% / 112%
Utan Kayu / 41.4 / 36% / 19% / 72% / 25% / 92%
Cilandak / 49.9 / 47% / 22% / 79% / 30% / 107%
Kebagusan / 65.9 / 65% / 27% / 89% / 38% / 125%
Gandul, Depok / 71.5 / 72% / 29% / 92% / 40% / 130%
Kukusan, Depok / 49.2 / 46% / 22% / 79% / 29% / 105%
Jonggol / 41.5 / 36% / 19% / 72% / 25% / 92%
Cikunir / 64.1 / 63% / 27% / 88% / 37% / 123%
Jatibening / 61.5 / 61% / 26% / 87% / 36% / 121%
Cibubur / 103.2 / 103% / 38% / 104% / 54% / 148%

Note: The average level of PM2.5 in February 2017 was used as annual data for the calculation.

The calculations suggest that the air pollution in February more than doubled the risk of stroke at Cibubur and almost doubled the risk at Tambun, Setiabudi, Citayam, Ciledug, Kebagusan, Depok, Cikunir, Jatibening, KebonJeruk, Cilandak, Kedoya, and WarungBuncit.

·The death rate from heart disease and acute respiratory infection in children is doubled in Cibubur.

·In general, there is a significant increase in premature deaths in all monitored locations from stroke, heart disease, respiratory infections in children, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease. Furthermore, the highest increase in deaths rate is caused by stroke and other heart diseases.

Steps forward

Air pollution in Greater Jakarta has been the neglected deadly health hazard. It is not only killing people, it is also creating huge economic losses for the country because of the health impacts and poorer work productivity because of illness.

Greenpeace is calling on the Government of Indonesia to immediately take the following steps:

  1. Establish a proper, publicly-accessible air quality monitoring system, involving a wide range of stakeholders.
  2. Develop and implement strategies with clear targets and steps so that air quality meets, initially, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and then the more rigorous WHO standard. These strategies should include the reduction of pollution from key sectors – in particular, power generation, transport and industry.
  3. Since most of air pollution sources come from fossil energy utilization in various sectors, the air quality improvement strategies should also include the changes of energy sources, from fossil fuels to clean energy, especially in transport and power generation sectors.

[1]

[2]

Appendix 1.

24-Hour PM2.5 level in Some Areas in Jabodatebek

(30 January to 28 February 2017)

Source: Greenpeace Indonesia air quality monitoring

Appendix 2.

24-Hour PM2.5 level in Some Areas in Jabodatebek

(1 March to 29 March 2017)

Source: Greenpeace Indonesia air quality monitoring