Many transit officials suffer lead poisoning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): One third of the City Land Transportation
\nAgency's officials who work in bus terminals have lead poisoning,
\na research study shows.<\/p>\n
The research conducted by the city's environmental study and
\nmonitoring office and University of Indonesia's School of Public
\nHealth revealed that lead in the blood samples of 17 officials
\nexceeds the limit.<\/p>\n
The head of the research, Made Djaja, said on Thursday that
\nthe lead content in the officials' blood samples was more than 40
\nug% (40 micrograms in every 100 millimeters of blood).<\/p>\n
\"It shows that lead poisoning in bus terminals is high and it
\nis time for the officials who spend six hours per day there to
\nuse preventive devices,\" Made said.<\/p>\n
He said the research was conducted in Lebak Bulus, Kampung
\nRambutan and Pulogadung bus terminals and three busy crossroads
\nin Cawang, Senen and Tomang.<\/p>\n
The blood samples were taken from 94 people, 53 of whom are
\nofficials of the agency and the remainder being traders in the
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Made said the lead content of the remaining agency officials
\nreached 36 ug% while the traders reached 25 ug%.<\/p>\n
\"It is important for people who work around the places to use
\nmasks to cover their mouths and noses, have regular general
\ncheckups as well as drink a lot of milk to flush out lead,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Made said that protein helps flush lead from the body and lead
\npoisoning can be avoided by drinking milk.<\/p>\n
Monitoring<\/p>\n
The research team suggested the city administration increase
\nits monitoring and control of lead poisoning, especially in high-
\nrisk work sites.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is time to consider using unleaded gasoline or gas
\nin vehicles as well as create more green areas in the city,\" Made
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the city's environmental study and
\nmonitoring office, Ali Rozy, said that in general air pollution
\nin the city is still within a tolerable limit.<\/p>\n
He said the limit for SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) is 0.100 parts per
\nmillion and from 1990 to 1995 the content of SO2 in the city's
\nair was below it. In 1990 it reached 0.003 part per million,
\n0.0025 in 1991, 0.002 in 1992, 0.004 in 1994, and 0.025 in 1995.<\/p>\n
The limit for NO2 ( Nitrogen dioxide) is 50 parts per billion
\n(ppb), in 1990 the NO2 content in the air reached 15 ppb, 15 ppb
\nin 1991, 20 ppb in 1992, 25 ppb in 1993, 35 ppb in 1994 and 25
\nppb in 1995.<\/p>\n
The limit for lead is 60 ug per cubic meter, in 1992 it
\nreached 1.14 ug% per cubic meter, 1.11 ug% per cubic meter in
\n1993, 0.99 ug% per cubic meter in 1994 and 1.2 ug% per cubic
\nmeter in 1995.<\/p>\n
\"The condition of air in the city is still under the limit.
\nOnly dust content in the air has passed the limit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the limit of dust content is 90 ug per cubic meter, in
\n1990 the content was 200 ug per cubic meter, 250 ug per cubic
\nmeter in 1991, 1992, and 1995, 200 ug per cubic meter in 1993 and
\n1994.(yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/many-transit-officials-suffer-lead-poisoning-1447893297",
"image": ""
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