Jakartans remain deaf to noise pollution

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Many people in the capital are getting used to deafening noise erupting from loudspeakers in shopping areas in Blok M, South Jakarta, or to the roaring sounds emitted by bemo (three-wheeled public transport vans) or bajaj (three-wheeled motorized pedicabs) at Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta.

Without realizing it, people have become the victims of noise pollution, which could damage their eardrums, almost every day.

And the abuse to one's eardrums sometimes starts very early in the day.

One might jump out of the bed at 5 a.m. hearing bread sellers screaming roti! or gas sellers shouting gas! through loudspeakers.

In the car, on the way to the office, you might be jolted out of your seat by loud honks from other motorists as if the horn was blown right in your ears.

Even though there is noise all around us, it is not widely recognized as pollution. The common people do not treat it like other forms of pollution, such as air pollution and water pollution, or pollution resulting from solid waste or liquid waste.

Syahril, a shoes seller at Blok M, seemed surprised when he was told that loud music emitted by nearby shopping centers' loudspeakers was in fact another kind of pollution.

"I'm used to it (loud music) ...," he simply said.

The loud music has forced him to talk louder to his customers. "Sometimes at home, I still talk louder than I should until my wife reminds me," laughed Syahril, a junior high school graduate.

People's unawareness of noise pollution is largely contributed to by the lack of campaigns by both the government and non- governmental organizations.

They are mostly devoted their work of raising public awareness to other kinds of pollutions, leaving noise pollution behind.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), Emmy Hafild, said that noise pollution is not fully addressed because its risks are considered lower than other types of pollution.

"We still concentrate on high-risk pollutions which can have an immediate impacts on people, such as causing sickness or death," Emmy told The Jakarta Post.

She said Walhi has yet to consider to specifically include noise pollution in its programs.

"We haven't thought about it. Here, high-risk pollutions are still not fully addressed," Emmy said.

The Environmental Impact Management Agency's director for air pollution control, Margana Koesoemadinata, revealed that the minister of environment has issued ministerial decrees No. 49/1996 and No. 48/1996 related to noise pollution.

But the decrees are mostly intended to control noise levels around industrial sites, he added.

Amid the existence of the decrees, he admitted that noise pollution is not as widely known as other types of pollution.

"We address pollution based on a priority scale. Noise pollution impact is not immediate, that's why we mostly concentrate on other types of pollution," said Margana, who conducted a survey in 1992 on noise pollution in five Indonesian cities when he was a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

The survey found that noise pollution in residential areas, hospitals, bus stations, shopping centers and recreational areas had reached a very high level.

Margana said it took four years before the minister finally issued decrees on noise pollution.

"The regulations regarding noise pollution are still loose. So far, industrial sites have already paid heed to the regulations to meet requirements to obtain an ISO-14000," he said.

ISO is an international accreditation system; the 14000 certificate acknowledges that recipient companies have met certain environmental standards by incorporating environmental management systems, environmental audits, labeling and conservation evaluations. The series was introduced in view of the increasing prominence given to environmental considerations in international trade.

The most recent survey on noise pollution conducted by the city administration's office of urban and environment analysis in November and December 1996 found that the average level of noise pollution in Jakarta exceeded the standard level.

For instance, noise levels on Jl. Thamrin close to the President Hotel, Central Jakarta, were recorded at 70 decibels, while shopping areas in Blok M recorded noise levels at 81.6 decibels.

At the Kalibata Indah housing complex, Fatmawati Hospital and Kampung Rambutan bus terminal, the recorded noise level was 55 decibels, while the Kelapa Gading apartments, areas around Fatahillah museum and Taman Impian recreational park, North Jakarta, recorded noise levels at 56.6 decibels.

According to the survey, the criteria of which was determined by the city administration, it was found that noise levels in residential areas, office sites, public facilities, industrial sites and recreational facilities have exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) standard levels by about five decibels.

According to a recent WHO study, noise levels of 75 decibels can cause serious health problems, such as lack of concentration, rest, sleep and disturbance of communication between individuals.

The study also warned that high noise levels may lead to serious pathological reactions in the human body. WHO has fixed average noise level at 55 decibels for community and urban areas.

It further warned that if noise levels in occupational and industrial areas exceeded 75 decibels, there was a "predictable risk of hearing impairment".

Other countries, however, have paid more attention toward noise pollution much earlier.

Asiaweek weekly magazine reported in March 1993 that New Delhi introduced noise restrictions on public loudspeaker systems, aircraft operations, railways and construction sites in January 1993, while in Bangkok, police periodically test traffic noise, and the Singapore government recommended a national campaign to educate the public about noise pollution related with karaoke bars and community functions.

Noise itself was recognized as a pollutant in the Environment Protection Act of 1984 and the Central Pollution Control Board has fixed standards for noise levels for the city depending on the area.

Under its regulations, in "silent zones" such as hospitals the ceiling on noise has been fixed at 40 decibels at night and 50 decibels during the day. Residential areas are allowed a noise level of 55 decibels to 65 decibels. Markets 65 decibels to 75 decibels and industrial areas, a limit of 80 decibels.