Wearing A Mask, Jakarta's Air Quality This Saturday Is Not Healthy

Illustration - Residents pass by wearing masks to protect themselves from dust, at the Bike Crossing Bridge (JPS) as well as the People's Crossing Bridge (JPO) on Jalan Sudirman, Jakarta. BETWEEN PHOTOS/Reno Esnir/hp/aa.

JAKARTA - The air quality of the City of Jakarta was recorded as unhealthy this Saturday and the public was advised to wear masks when leaving the house, as stated on the updated IQAir page on Saturday at 05.00 WIB.

Reported by ANTARA, Saturday, June 14, IQAIR noted that Jakarta's air quality is at 158 points with a concentration level of PM 2.5 pollutants of 65.6 micrograms per cubic meter or 13.1 times higher the annual air quality guide value of the World Health Organization (WHO).

PM 2.5 is a 2.5 smaller particle (micrometer) 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 given the current air quality, namely avoiding outdoor activities, wearing masks while outside, closing windows to avoid dirty outside air and turning on air filters.

Jakarta's air quality is recorded to be in fifth place as the most polluting city in Indonesia, apart from Tangerang, Banten with 172 points; Depok, West Java (171); Surabaya, East Java (170); South Tangerang, Banten (164).

Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) invites the public to take part in the #GerakBersih challenge for 14 days starting from 7-20 June 2025 to maintain air conditions while commemorating the peak celebration of Environment Day (HLH) 2025.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto, said that this movement invites residents to switch to public transportation, walking, cycling and other environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

This step, said Asep, was taken to reduce PM 2.5 emissions and contribute directly to efforts to improve air quality in Jakarta.