Lead pollution, a big problem<\/p>\n
We refer to the letter 'Danger lurking everywhere' (Dec. 2,
\n1997) by Mr. Soegih Arto.<\/p>\n
I very much appreciate that finally somebody is tackling the
\nsubject.<\/p>\n
According to a very recent CNBC report, Jakarta is one of the
\ncities with the highest pollution in the world, it is three times
\nthe acceptable level, with the result that very grave health
\nproblems are the consequence. Out of our own personal experience
\nwe can confirm everything Mr. Soegih Arto said.<\/p>\n
When we recently had a hair test in Europe, both my wife and I
\nwere found to have extremely high lead levels, for which there
\nare only two main sources. One source is lead water pipes, with
\nits effect on drinking water, which is in our case excluded,
\nsince we only drink distilled water. The other main source is air
\npollution from car exhaust, industrial exhaust and burning
\ngarbage.<\/p>\n
Excessive lead in the body can severely damage the immune
\nsystem, can cause hyperactivity, difficulties in learning, loss
\nof energy, anemia, digestion problems caused by damage to the
\nnervous system and many other problems.<\/p>\n
We do not want to cause panic, but the problem has become very
\nserious since last year, when our hair test did not show the same
\nresults as this year.<\/p>\n
If we are affected, living in the South of Jakarta, in a
\nfairly green area and far away from the main arteries and petrol
\nstations, we can only imagine that others are much more affected,
\nperhaps the majority of Jakarta's population.<\/p>\n
It is high time the government did something in respect to
\ntraffic, other countries recognize the danger, like for instance
\nThailand, where the police are now regularly checking cars on the
\nroad, and when they are found to have excessive exhaust, the
\ndriver gets a heavy fine and his driving license is withdrawn for
\na certain period until he has fixed the exhaust on his car\/bus.<\/p>\n
The main culprits, and we presume it is the same in Jakarta,
\nare buses or public transportation, which are not well
\nmaintained, and no effective controls exist anyway. We realize
\nthat very little can be done about traffic jams, which seriously
\nworsen the situation, but another source of pollution can
\ncertainly be reduced, i.e. educating the population not to burn
\ngarbage, particularly plastic materials at home, which is a
\nwidespread habit and emits a lot of poison.<\/p>\n
We would like to add that the recent smog caused by fires in
\nKalimantan have nothing to do with our own results, since we left
\nthe country before this occurred.<\/p>\n
We do hope that competent authorities are reading this and do
\ntake the necessary steps, even high officials have to breathe the
\nsame air as we do, everybody is involved and affected.<\/p>\n
LEO SETZEPFANDT<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lead-pollution-a-big-problem-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }