Ciliwung river polluted by pesticides, study shows
Ciliwung river polluted by pesticides, study shows
JAKARTA (JP): A study by the city's environmental office reveals that the Ciliwung river water has been severely contaminated by pesticides, which have killed thousands of fish in the river.
The study released yesterday revealed that a chemical named aldrin was found in the gills, the guts and flesh of the dead sapu-sapu fish.
The sapu-sapu fish is able to live in the dirtiest waters.
The study was conducted in 11 locations soon after the fish were found dead, floating in the river from Kwitang bridge to Jembatan Merah near the Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta.
The sites studied cover both ends of the river: Jembatan Kelapa Dua, Condet, Jl. M.T. Haryono, Kampung Melayu, Jl. Slamet Riyadi, the Manggarai sluice, Matraman, Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Raden Saleh, Jl. Kwitang and the Istiqlal mosque area.
The head of the city's environmental study and monitoring office, Ali Rozi, said aldrin was on the list of banned pesticides here.
"The analysis found 5.5 parts per billion (ppb) of aldrin in the gills and stomach contents, and 1.5 ppb in the flesh of the fish," Ali said.
As some Jakartans like to eat this fish, the office warned against its consumption, at least until further studies are conducted.
Aldrin is used for termite control and is known as a carcinogen. The report did not mention any possible sources of the pesticides.
The study also took samples from 23 sites to review the condition of the Ciliwung river.
The report concluded that the quality of the river has generally deteriorated.
Above limits
Ali disclosed that the Ciliwung's level of chemical oxygen demand (COD) has broken limits set by the city in 16 of the studied areas.
Around Jl. M.T. Haryono, South Jakarta, the level of COD, a measurement for organic river pollution, went 125 to 230 percent above the maximum level of 20 milligrams per liter for drinking water supplies.
Ali said mud and metal are also problems along the river, particularly around Jl. Raden Saleh.
Ali added the condition will further affect the ecosystem of the fish.
Earlier another environmental expert said the fish died of ecological changes in the Ciliwung.
A researcher of the Public Health School of the University of Indonesia, Made Djaja, said this was caused by the massive floods that struck the capital in January and February.
The floods, according to Made, caused changes in the biological and chemical oxygen levels of the water in the Ciliwung river.
Made, said the case of the sapu-sapu was similar to the one in the Jatiluhur dam, West Java, in which thousands of fish were found dead.
He said the fish in Jatiluhur died because of changes in the oxygen level.
In 1994 fish also died in the thousands in Ancol, North Jakarta. The cause was attributed to pollution and a subsequent "red tide", a phenomenon which cuts off the river's oxygen supply. (yns/anr)