Ciliwung river polluted by pesticides, study shows<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A study by the city's environmental office
\nreveals that the Ciliwung river water has been severely
\ncontaminated by pesticides, which have killed thousands of fish
\nin the river.<\/p>\n
The study released yesterday revealed that a chemical named
\naldrin was found in the gills, the guts and flesh of the dead
\nsapu-sapu fish.<\/p>\n
The sapu-sapu fish is able to live in the dirtiest waters.<\/p>\n
The study was conducted in 11 locations soon after the fish
\nwere found dead, floating in the river from Kwitang bridge to
\nJembatan Merah near the Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The sites studied cover both ends of the river: Jembatan
\nKelapa Dua, Condet, Jl. M.T. Haryono, Kampung Melayu, Jl. Slamet
\nRiyadi, the Manggarai sluice, Matraman, Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Raden
\nSaleh, Jl. Kwitang and the Istiqlal mosque area.<\/p>\n
The head of the city's environmental study and monitoring
\noffice, Ali Rozi, said aldrin was on the list of banned
\npesticides here.<\/p>\n
\"The analysis found 5.5 parts per billion (ppb) of aldrin in
\nthe gills and stomach contents, and 1.5 ppb in the flesh of the
\nfish,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
As some Jakartans like to eat this fish, the office warned
\nagainst its consumption, at least until further studies are
\nconducted.<\/p>\n
Aldrin is used for termite control and is known as a
\ncarcinogen. The report did not mention any possible sources of
\nthe pesticides.<\/p>\n
The study also took samples from 23 sites to review the
\ncondition of the Ciliwung river.<\/p>\n
The report concluded that the quality of the river has
\ngenerally deteriorated.<\/p>\n
Above limits<\/p>\n
Ali disclosed that the Ciliwung's level of chemical oxygen
\ndemand (COD) has broken limits set by the city in 16 of the
\nstudied areas.<\/p>\n
Around Jl. M.T. Haryono, South Jakarta, the level of COD, a
\nmeasurement for organic river pollution, went 125 to 230 percent
\nabove the maximum level of 20 milligrams per liter for drinking
\nwater supplies.<\/p>\n
Ali said mud and metal are also problems along the river,
\nparticularly around Jl. Raden Saleh.<\/p>\n
Ali added the condition will further affect the ecosystem of
\nthe fish.<\/p>\n
Earlier another environmental expert said the fish died of
\necological changes in the Ciliwung.<\/p>\n
A researcher of the Public Health School of the University of
\nIndonesia, Made Djaja, said this was caused by the massive floods
\nthat struck the capital in January and February.<\/p>\n
The floods, according to Made, caused changes in the
\nbiological and chemical oxygen levels of the water in the
\nCiliwung river.<\/p>\n
Made, said the case of the sapu-sapu was similar to the one in
\nthe Jatiluhur dam, West Java, in which thousands of fish were
\nfound dead.<\/p>\n
He said the fish in Jatiluhur died because of changes in the
\noxygen level.<\/p>\n
In 1994 fish also died in the thousands in Ancol, North
\nJakarta. The cause was attributed to pollution and a subsequent
\n\"red tide\", a phenomenon which cuts off the river's oxygen
\nsupply. (yns\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ciliwung-river-polluted-by-pesticides-study-shows-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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