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)