Air pollution killing children, says Sarwono

Air pollution killing children, says Sarwono

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja made an impassioned appeal yesterday for the
phasing out of leaded gasoline in the country to spare the deaths
of more Indonesian children.

In a paper presented by his staff at a seminar on the health
impacts of leaded gasoline, Sarwono cited startling figures from
a 1990 World Bank census.

Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is responsible for the
deaths of 15 percent of Indonesian children under five and for
6.2 percent of all deaths in Indonesia. In Jakarta, the total
figure doubles to nearly 12.6 percent.

"These were mostly caused by airborne particulates," he said
in the paper read by his senior aide, P.L. Coutrier, deputy for
Environmental Impact Assessment and Technology Development.

The one-day seminar at the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel
was held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the
Department of Environmental Health of the School of Public Health
at the University of Indonesia.

While acknowledging that he had no precise figures for the
amount of lead in the air, Sarwono pointed out that the main air
pollutants in big cities are carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide,
nitrogen oxide, tetrahydrocannabinol and total suspended
particulates.

These are predominantly the result of vehicle emissions, he
said, citing a survey by the Bandung Institute of Technology in
Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang and Medan.

Jakarta, he pointed out, has already surpassed the ambient
standards for these emissions while Bandung, Semarang and Medan
are still within prevailing air quality standards.

Sarwono's paper pointed out that, according to the 1990 World
Bank report, the social cost borne by the Jakarta population
because of air pollution is estimated at $350 million. "It is
therefore very important to release the public from this
financial burden and to enhance the quality of their health."

"The effects of air pollution are very well known -- most of
them cause pulmonary diseases, but excessive lead in the blood
will cause the most frightening impact by affecting the
neurophysiological and intellectual development of our children,"
he said.

Sarwono said various surveys found that the most populous
areas in Jakarta such as Bandengan, Pasar Ikan, Pulogadung, Pasar
Baru, Radio Dalam, Pondok Gede, Senen, Sawah Besar and Tebet are
believed to be the most polluted.

The concentrations of lead in the air at the roadsides of the
busiest streets were also found to exceed national and
international limits.

"Examinations of the lead levels in the blood of bemo
(motorized three-wheel vehicles) drivers and slum dwellers reveal
that people living in densely-populated urban areas have double
the amount of lead compared to those in rural areas.

"The origin of lead is quite obvious -- exhaust gases from
motor vehicles using leaded fuel," he said.

The government has already declared that Indonesia should
phase out the use of leaded gasoline, but it has not set a firm
deadline.

A plan to begin introducing unleaded gasoline starting last
year was postponed because of delays in the completion of a new
oil refinery plant in Balongan, West Java.

The EXOR-I refinery plant, belonging to the state oil company
Pertamina, will produce low-leaded gasoline. Pertamina officials
say the refinery would chiefly supply the gasoline needs of Java.

Sarwono in his paper suggested improving the ignition systems
of motor vehicles through proper maintenance, setting a gradual
plan to permit only low emission engines and switching to gaseous
fuels such as CNG and LPG to reduce lead in gasoline and combat
air pollution.

Coutrier proposed approaching the problem case by case, saying
that pollution in smaller cities, like Palu and Kendari in
Sulawesi, is not as severe as in Jakarta. (03)