Jakartans remain deaf to noise pollution<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many people in the capital are getting used to
\ndeafening noise erupting from loudspeakers in shopping areas in
\nBlok M, South Jakarta, or to the roaring sounds emitted by bemo
\n(three-wheeled public transport vans) or bajaj (three-wheeled
\nmotorized pedicabs) at Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Without realizing it, people have become the victims of noise
\npollution, which could damage their eardrums, almost every day.<\/p>\n
And the abuse to one's eardrums sometimes starts very early in
\nthe day.<\/p>\n
One might jump out of the bed at 5 a.m. hearing bread sellers
\nscreaming roti! or gas sellers shouting gas! through
\nloudspeakers.<\/p>\n
In the car, on the way to the office, you might be jolted out
\nof your seat by loud honks from other motorists as if the horn
\nwas blown right in your ears.<\/p>\n
Even though there is noise all around us, it is not widely
\nrecognized as pollution. The common people do not treat it like
\nother forms of pollution, such as air pollution and water
\npollution, or pollution resulting from solid waste or liquid
\nwaste.<\/p>\n
Syahril, a shoes seller at Blok M, seemed surprised when he
\nwas told that loud music emitted by nearby shopping centers'
\nloudspeakers was in fact another kind of pollution.<\/p>\n
\"I'm used to it (loud music) ...,\" he simply said.<\/p>\n
The loud music has forced him to talk louder to his customers.
\n\"Sometimes at home, I still talk louder than I should until my
\nwife reminds me,\" laughed Syahril, a junior high school graduate.<\/p>\n
People's unawareness of noise pollution is largely contributed
\nto by the lack of campaigns by both the government and non-
\ngovernmental organizations.<\/p>\n
They are mostly devoted their work of raising public awareness
\nto other kinds of pollutions, leaving noise pollution behind.<\/p>\n
Chairwoman of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi),
\nEmmy Hafild, said that noise pollution is not fully addressed
\nbecause its risks are considered lower than other types of
\npollution.<\/p>\n
\"We still concentrate on high-risk pollutions which can have
\nan immediate impacts on people, such as causing sickness or
\ndeath,\" Emmy told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She said Walhi has yet to consider to specifically include
\nnoise pollution in its programs.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't thought about it. Here, high-risk pollutions are
\nstill not fully addressed,\" Emmy said.<\/p>\n
The Environmental Impact Management Agency's director for air
\npollution control, Margana Koesoemadinata, revealed that the
\nminister of environment has issued ministerial decrees No.
\n49\/1996 and No. 48\/1996 related to noise pollution.<\/p>\n
But the decrees are mostly intended to control noise levels
\naround industrial sites, he added.<\/p>\n
Amid the existence of the decrees, he admitted that noise
\npollution is not as widely known as other types of pollution.<\/p>\n
\"We address pollution based on a priority scale. Noise
\npollution impact is not immediate, that's why we mostly
\nconcentrate on other types of pollution,\" said Margana, who
\nconducted a survey in 1992 on noise pollution in five Indonesian
\ncities when he was a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences.<\/p>\n
The survey found that noise pollution in residential areas,
\nhospitals, bus stations, shopping centers and recreational areas
\nhad reached a very high level.<\/p>\n
Margana said it took four years before the minister finally
\nissued decrees on noise pollution.<\/p>\n
\"The regulations regarding noise pollution are still loose. So
\nfar, industrial sites have already paid heed to the regulations
\nto meet requirements to obtain an ISO-14000,\" he said.<\/p>\n
ISO is an international accreditation system; the 14000
\ncertificate acknowledges that recipient companies have met
\ncertain environmental standards by incorporating environmental
\nmanagement systems, environmental audits, labeling and
\nconservation evaluations. The series was introduced in view of
\nthe increasing prominence given to environmental considerations
\nin international trade.<\/p>\n
The most recent survey on noise pollution conducted by the
\ncity administration's office of urban and environment analysis in
\nNovember and December 1996 found that the average level of noise
\npollution in Jakarta exceeded the standard level.<\/p>\n
For instance, noise levels on Jl. Thamrin close to the
\nPresident Hotel, Central Jakarta, were recorded at 70 decibels,
\nwhile shopping areas in Blok M recorded noise levels at 81.6
\ndecibels.<\/p>\n
At the Kalibata Indah housing complex, Fatmawati Hospital and
\nKampung Rambutan bus terminal, the recorded noise level was 55
\ndecibels, while the Kelapa Gading apartments, areas around
\nFatahillah museum and Taman Impian recreational park, North
\nJakarta, recorded noise levels at 56.6 decibels.<\/p>\n
According to the survey, the criteria of which was determined
\nby the city administration, it was found that noise levels in
\nresidential areas, office sites, public facilities, industrial
\nsites and recreational facilities have exceeded World Health
\nOrganization (WHO) standard levels by about five decibels.<\/p>\n
According to a recent WHO study, noise levels of 75 decibels
\ncan cause serious health problems, such as lack of concentration,
\nrest, sleep and disturbance of communication between individuals.<\/p>\n
The study also warned that high noise levels may lead to
\nserious pathological reactions in the human body. WHO has fixed
\naverage noise level at 55 decibels for community and urban areas.<\/p>\n
It further warned that if noise levels in occupational and
\nindustrial areas exceeded 75 decibels, there was a \"predictable
\nrisk of hearing impairment\".<\/p>\n
Other countries, however, have paid more attention toward
\nnoise pollution much earlier.<\/p>\n
Asiaweek weekly magazine reported in March 1993 that New Delhi
\nintroduced noise restrictions on public loudspeaker systems,
\naircraft operations, railways and construction sites in January
\n1993, while in Bangkok, police periodically test traffic noise,
\nand the Singapore government recommended a national campaign to
\neducate the public about noise pollution related with karaoke
\nbars and community functions.<\/p>\n
Noise itself was recognized as a pollutant in the Environment
\nProtection Act of 1984 and the Central Pollution Control Board
\nhas fixed standards for noise levels for the city depending on
\nthe area.<\/p>\n
Under its regulations, in \"silent zones\" such as hospitals the
\nceiling on noise has been fixed at 40 decibels at night and 50
\ndecibels during the day. Residential areas are allowed a noise
\nlevel of 55 decibels to 65 decibels. Markets 65 decibels to 75
\ndecibels and industrial areas, a limit of 80 decibels.<\/p>",
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