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)