Jakarta Air Is Bad Today, Masks Are Mandatory!

JAKARTA - Jakarta City's air quality this Tuesday was recorded as unhealthy for sensitive groups, so they were advised to wear masks when they were outside the house, according to the IQAir page with an update at 05.00 WIB.

Reported by ANTARA, IQAIR noted that Jakarta's air quality is at point 125 with a concentration level of PM 2.5 pollutants of 45.2 micrograms per cubic meter or 9 higher the annual air quality guide value of the World Health Organization (WHO).

PM 2.5 is a 2.5-micrometer smaller particle found in the air including dust, smoke and jelaga. This particle exposure in the long term is associated with early death, especially in people who have chronic heart or lung disease.

Health recommendations related to the current air quality, apart from wearing masks, also avoid outdoor activities, closing windows in order to avoid dirty outside air, and turning on air filters.

Jakarta's air quality is recorded to be in the third-worst place in Indonesia, after South Tangerang, Banten, with 161 points; then Depok, West Java (157), and Surabaya, East Java (125).

To control air pollution, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is developing an Integrated Emission Low Area (KRE-T). This effort also aims to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life of the community in a fair and inclusive manner.

KRE-T is a series of multi-sector interventions as well as a continuation of Jakarta's commitment to the Low Carbon Development Plan as stated in Governor Regulation Number 90 of 2021 and Governor's Decree Number 576 of 2023 concerning Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU).

In addition, the DKI Provincial Government also encourages concrete cooperation with buffer areas to jointly reduce emissions, especially from the industrial sector whose activities also affect the air in Jakarta.

Another effort is also made, namely law enforcement against heavy vehicles that do not pass the emission test. This effort, said the DKI Provincial Government, is a tangible form of our seriousness in maintaining air quality.