Pollution of Jakarta Bay<\/p>\n
I refer to your editorial in The Jakarta Post of May 15 entitled
\nBad smell in N. Jakarta. This is a horror story and well-known by
\nthose who enjoy the sea around Jakarta and the Thousand Islands<\/p>\n
In a chapter about Indonesia's Fisheries Resources in
\nIndonesia: Resources, Ecology, and Environment edited by Joan
\nHardjono published 1991 Oxford University Press it is stated \"The
\nmost devastating Indonesian example of this is the pollution of
\nJakarta Bay which has partially destroyed the inshore fishing
\nindustry and completed the destruction of the coral reefs of
\ncoastal islands like Pulau Ayer\".<\/p>\n
The chapter then proceeds to list the dangerous condition of
\nbay shellfish -- carriers of typhoid and hepatitis virus, faecal
\ncoli levels at 25 times World-Health-Organization-recommended
\nlevels and noting average faecal coliform and faecal
\nstreptococcal counts were also high.<\/p>\n
Applying U.S. EPA standards, heavy metal levels such a lead
\nand cadmium were very high, while mercury, zinc and copper were
\nhigh. Consequently, much of the fish caught in Jakarta Bay was
\nnot edible. In villages close to the pollution source, children
\nwere already showing indications of Minamata disease.<\/p>\n
I am sure the condition of the bay has worsened in the past 15
\nyears since this information was written. Speedy and decisive
\naction is needed.<\/p>\n
The solution is of course industrial compliance and an
\neffective sewage system for Jakarta.<\/p>\n
T. C. SCOTT
\n Bogor, West Java<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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