Minister Of Health Calls Water Spraying On The Road Only Transfers Pollution

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that spraying roads is not effective for overcoming air pollution because these activities only move pollution from one place to another. "Pr. 2.5 particles are circulating in the upper air, not below..., so actually if it is sprayed it must be above, not below," said the Minister of Health, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday 27 August. "The spraying activities must also be broad because if it is only shifted away, it can spread to other places," he added. World Health Agency (WHO) divides air pollution into two groups, namely gas and particles. Pollution of air triggered by gas sourced from nitrogen monoxide, sulfur monoxide, and carbon monoxide. Meanwhile, particle-induced air pollution comes from PM2.5 and PM10. The Minister of Health said there are only two things that can eliminate PM2.5 particles and other pollutant sources quickly, namely heavy rain and strong winds. On August 17, 2023 ago, various air quality index monitoring in Jakarta showed yellow and even green numbers because at that time there was strong winds blowing air pollution away the capital city of Indonesia.

He further said that there are three main causes of air pollution, namely transportation, steam power plants that use coal fuel, and industries that use coal or other carbon fuels. "So if you want to reduce PM2.5, what is usually reduced is transportation, power plants, and industry. This is what causes many PM2.5s to be above," concluded the Minister of Health.