Many transit officials suffer lead poisoning

Many transit officials suffer lead poisoning

JAKARTA (JP): One third of the City Land Transportation
Agency's officials who work in bus terminals have lead poisoning,
a research study shows.

The research conducted by the city's environmental study and
monitoring office and University of Indonesia's School of Public
Health revealed that lead in the blood samples of 17 officials
exceeds the limit.

The head of the research, Made Djaja, said on Thursday that
the lead content in the officials' blood samples was more than 40
ug% (40 micrograms in every 100 millimeters of blood).

"It shows that lead poisoning in bus terminals is high and it
is time for the officials who spend six hours per day there to
use preventive devices," Made said.

He said the research was conducted in Lebak Bulus, Kampung
Rambutan and Pulogadung bus terminals and three busy crossroads
in Cawang, Senen and Tomang.

The blood samples were taken from 94 people, 53 of whom are
officials of the agency and the remainder being traders in the
areas.

Made said the lead content of the remaining agency officials
reached 36 ug% while the traders reached 25 ug%.

"It is important for people who work around the places to use
masks to cover their mouths and noses, have regular general
checkups as well as drink a lot of milk to flush out lead," he
said.

Made said that protein helps flush lead from the body and lead
poisoning can be avoided by drinking milk.

Monitoring

The research team suggested the city administration increase
its monitoring and control of lead poisoning, especially in high-
risk work sites.

"I think it is time to consider using unleaded gasoline or gas
in vehicles as well as create more green areas in the city," Made
said.

Meanwhile, the head of the city's environmental study and
monitoring office, Ali Rozy, said that in general air pollution
in the city is still within a tolerable limit.

He said the limit for SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) is 0.100 parts per
million and from 1990 to 1995 the content of SO2 in the city's
air was below it. In 1990 it reached 0.003 part per million,
0.0025 in 1991, 0.002 in 1992, 0.004 in 1994, and 0.025 in 1995.

The limit for NO2 ( Nitrogen dioxide) is 50 parts per billion
(ppb), in 1990 the NO2 content in the air reached 15 ppb, 15 ppb
in 1991, 20 ppb in 1992, 25 ppb in 1993, 35 ppb in 1994 and 25
ppb in 1995.

The limit for lead is 60 ug per cubic meter, in 1992 it
reached 1.14 ug% per cubic meter, 1.11 ug% per cubic meter in
1993, 0.99 ug% per cubic meter in 1994 and 1.2 ug% per cubic
meter in 1995.

"The condition of air in the city is still under the limit.
Only dust content in the air has passed the limit," he said.

He said the limit of dust content is 90 ug per cubic meter, in
1990 the content was 200 ug per cubic meter, 250 ug per cubic
meter in 1991, 1992, and 1995, 200 ug per cubic meter in 1993 and
1994.(yns)