Contamination of the Jakarta Bay

Contamination of the Jakarta Bay

From Neraca

The central governing board of the Indonesian Environmental Management (BLHI) has called on the government and the Jakarta administration to pay attention to reports drawn up by non- governmental organizations on the contamination of the Jakarta Bay by heavy metal which has led to the destruction of the marine habitat.

The permissible threshold of heavy metal contamination is 2 ppm, but at present, as reported by a non-governmental organization, fish in the Jakarta Bay have a heavy metal contamination level of between 13 and 14 ppm, comprising lead (Pb), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and other substances.

Therefore, fish from the Jakarta Bay are not safe to eat as the health of the community can be adversely affected. It must be remembered that inside the human body contamination by this heavy metal can disrupt renal functions, decrease the strength of the bones and the body's immunity and hamper the development of one's intelligence.

For the time being, the community should be advised not to eat fish from the Jakarta Bay.

The relevant government agency should have a sense of crisis regarding this environmental problem and should not be indifferent. If not, the development of the community's health and the quality of human resources will be affected, particularly concerning the younger generation.

We should not hesitate to rectify this matter. It is obvious that this problem will give rise to adverse affects which will not only have an impact on people's health and the environment, the latter referring to the quality of protein resources and the conservation of the habitat for all marine species and their ecosystems, but also the economy, particularly the fishery area, which is the prime source of the community's economy.

According to reports by non-governmental organizations, the contamination is a result of waste generated from industrial factories, households and water traffic. It is a good idea that the government cross-check these reports and take significant measures to restore the condition of the water habitat in the Jakarta Bay. Of particular importance, is putting an end to the dumping of industrial waste into the Jakarta Bay.

The heavy metal content in the Jakarta Bay indicates that in most cases the contamination is attributed to industrial waste. In this respect, non-governmental organizations are willing to cooperate in the interest of the community.

AGUS MIFTACH

General chairman/executive coordinator

of central governing board of BLHI

Jakarta