Luxury cars no shield for air pollution
Luxury cars no shield for air pollution
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Motorists in air-conditioned vehicles appear to be more
comfortable than motorists and passengers in non air-conditioned
vehicles as they can adjust the temperature inside their vehicles
to a setting of their choice.
But a recent study in Jakarta shows that motorists in luxury
cars do not escape air pollution. Like those in non-air
conditioned vehicles, they also inhale dangerous airborne
pollutants.
According to the study, carried out by the University of
Indonesia's (UI) Health Research Center, motorists in air-
conditioned vehicles even inhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) -- a
dangerous pollutant produced by the air-conditioning unit -- than
those who are in non air-conditioned buses.
"Our study shows that CO2 inside air-conditioned vehicles is
60 parts per million (ppm) to 80 ppm or two to three times higher
than the tolerable limit," researcher Budi Haryanto told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.
According to Budi, the tolerable content of CO2 in ambient air
is 20 ppm.
Inhaling high concentrations of CO2 will result in an
excessive amount of CO2 in the bloodstream which causes headache,
nausea and visual disturbances. A high concentration of CO2 in
the blood can also be fatal.
Budi explained that air does not circulate very well in air-
conditioned vehicles and thus CO2 caught inside would just
circulate inside the vehicle.
The study also showed that passengers of non air-conditioned
vehicles, pedestrians and traffic police officers were affected
most by another pollutant, known as particulate molecular (dust)
measuring some 2.5 microns, which is known as PM2.5.
Budi said the study showed that traffic police officers, which
were the target of the survey inhaled three to four times the
tolerable amount of PM2.5, which is 0.065 milligrams per cubic
meter.
The immediate effect of PM2.5 is coughing, respiratory
problems and eye irritation.
But, he added that exposure to such pollutants can also spark
various conditions from heart problems to premature death because
the dust consists of various metal pollutants.
Budi said the subject of the study was 10 traffic police
officers, five motorists of air-conditioned cars, five motorists
of non air-conditioned cars, five passengers of air-conditioned
buses, five passengers of non air-conditioned buses and 10
elementary school students.
He said the subjects were equipped with instruments, which
automatically measured the PM2.5 and CO2 content in their
surrounding area. Each subject was surveyed for 24 hours within
three to four days.
According to Budi, the study was aimed at determining how much
dust and CO2 was inhaled within 24 hours.
Budi said that the complete result of the study had not been
released as his team was still drafting the summary.