Air pollution a threat to Surabaya

Air pollution a threat to Surabaya

Didik Kusbiantoro, Antara/Surabaya

Pollution here over the past few years has risen to an alarming
level. But, sadly, most residents are not even aware of the
health risks associated with air pollution.

A report released last year by the East Java chapter of the
Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) listed Surabaya as
one of 10 major cities in the country with air pollution levels
categorized as threatening.

The report states that Surabaya -- a city of some 2.5 million
people and the nation's second-largest city -- only enjoys good
air quality for between 27 and 51 days, or 17 percent of the
year.

The analysis of ambient air quality conducted by the Surabaya
Environmental Office indicates only 27 days of good air quality
were experienced in the city in 2001, and 40 days in 2002. The
condition improved to 70 days in 2003, but declined to 58 days in
2004.

As in other large cities, around 70 percent of air pollution
is caused by vehicular emission, and 30 percent from industries,
households and others. Based on records from the Surabaya Traffic
Police, the number of cars on the road in East Java increases by
around 7 percent annually, while roads are being developed at a
rate of about 4 percent. In Surabaya, the number of vehicles on
the road increased by an average of 910,000 units a year from
1997 to 2001.

With the increasing number of vehicles, air pollution in
Surabaya is only getting worse.

Among the harmful pollutants contained in vehicular emission
are nitrogen oxide (Nox), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC),
sulfur oxide (Sox), lead (PB) and other solid particles. The
toxins are hazardous to the health as they can accumulate in the
lungs and blood. Carbon monoxide, for example, can disrupt blood
circulation, leading to poor concentration and eye sight, and
even death. Hydrocarbons can cause ruptures in the
respiratory system and throat infections. Lead, including heavy
metals, can destroy the nervous and digestive systems and
kidneys, and can also reduce children's IQ.

Data released recently indicates children in Surabaya have a
blood lead concentration of 68 micrograms on average, which can
cause aggressiveness, as well as the inability to concentrate and
a reduced IQ.

Sardiyoko, an environmentalist, said that based on several
recent studies, the number one pollutants in the air in Surabaya
were carbon monoxide and dust particles.

"Most of the pollution is from vehicles," said Sardiyoko. The
results of a test conducted by the Environmental Impact
Management Agency (Bapedal) and the Bandung Institute of
Technology's Public Service Committee (LPM ITB) in 1995 indicated
that the total CO emission in Surabaya reached 5.5 million tons
each year, 96 percent of which was contributed by vehicles.

The decreasing number of green areas in Surabaya has
aggravated pollution in the city. Data from the Surabaya
administration shows that the city has only 26,000 hectares of
green areas while 32,637 hectares of green areas would be ideal.

Surabaya city spokesman Juli Subiyanto said the administration
had been carrying out regreening programs over the past few
years. He said the government had planted 111,574 trees in the
city between 2002 and 2004, but the pace of regreening programs
needed to be stepped up.