Jakarta's gasoline free from lead, but pollution still high
\nor
\nLead gone from air but pollution lingers<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
A survey has found that all gas pumps in Greater Jakarta have
\nbeen selling unleaded gasoline but experts say the capital's air
\nstill contains the hazardous substance.<\/p>\n
The survey was conducted by the Joint Committee for Leaded
\nGasoline Phase-out (KPBB) to check the progress of the
\ngovernment's lead-free program, implemented in last July last
\nyear, that required all fuel stations in Greater Jakarta to sell
\nunleaded gasoline.<\/p>\n
KPBB coordinator Syafei Kadarusman said on Wednesday that the
\nsurvey had concluded that gasoline taken from 30 fuel stations in
\nJakarta, Depok, Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang, contained a lead
\ncontent of less than 0.005 grams per liter, which had surpassed
\nthe international tolerable level of 0.013 grams per liter.<\/p>\n
The Balongan refinery plant in Cirebon, which started
\nproducing unleaded gasoline in June last year, supplies all gas
\npumps in Greater Jakarta and some in Cirebon, West Java.<\/p>\n
In July last year, Governor Sutiyoso and Minister of
\nEnvironment Sonny Keraf launched the lead-free program for
\nJakarta and its satellite cities.<\/p>\n
The lead, which is the most hazardous substance in gasoline,
\nfunctions to boost gasoline power (octane). In unleaded gasoline,
\nthe function of lead is replaced by another substance called the
\nhigh octane mogas component (HOMC).<\/p>\n
A high lead content in human blood, particularly children, can
\ncause anemia, lower intelligence, cause behavioral problems,
\naffect fertility and disrupt the nervous system.<\/p>\n
\"We have reached a significant achievement which should be
\nmaintained. And the government should continue by phasing-out all
\nleaded gasoline all over the country,\" Syafei added.<\/p>\n
Budi Haryanto, an environmentalist from the University of
\nIndonesia (UI), said though all fuel stations in the capital
\nsupplied unleaded gasoline, it did not mean that air in Jakarta
\nwas free of lead.<\/p>\n
\"We know that thousands of vehicles from outside Greater
\nJakarta come here everyday and they surely emit lead,\" said Budi.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Safruddin of the Jakarta's chapter of the Indonesian
\nForum for Environment (Walhi) said that the HOMC substance used
\nin Indonesia, such as reformate, polymer gasoline and RCC
\ngasoline, had a high content of olefin and aromatic.<\/p>\n
Like lead, he said, olefin and aromatic was a dirty octane,
\nwhich could affect both the vehicle machine as well as the health
\nof people in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Budi agreed with Ahmad saying that high content of olefin and
\naromatic in the air could cause cancer.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakartas-gasoline-free-from-lead-but-pollution-still-high-1447893297",
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