Ministry of Environment: Air Pollution from Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Worse Than Forest Fires

The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia has urged residents near the Jatiwaringin landfill in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, to avoid exposure to smoke from the fire at the site. This warning comes as air quality deteriorates, with fine particulate concentrations at the location reaching approximately 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre, far exceeding the national daily quality standard of 55 micrograms per cubic metre. “We certainly advise the community in the vicinity to continue using personal protective equipment, including wearing masks, so that the impact on their health can be managed. These are our current steps,” explained Rasio Ridho Sani, Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage at the Ministry of Environment, in Tangerang on Thursday. He stated that data from the ministry’s air quality monitoring station during the day showed that exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution at the Jatiwaringin landfill exceeded the threshold. The PM2.5 value was recorded at 1,000, against a standard of 55. Meanwhile, PM10 reached 750, against an ideal standard of 75. Rasio added that his team also measured nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) parameters arising from the burning waste pile at the Jatiwaringin landfill. “The particulates include SOx and NOx because among the materials burning here are plastics and so on; of course, plastic also impacts health,” he said. According to him, the air pollution arising from the Jatiwaringin landfill fire is worse than that from forest and land fires. This is because the burning waste pile contains biomass and methane gas. “Because of the air quality impact, firstly there is biomass and methane gas, and then there is plastic and so on,” he stated. Therefore, Rasio appealed to people who have no business related to the Jatiwaringin landfill fire not to approach the fire location, as it will significantly impact health, particularly acute respiratory infections. The National Disaster Management Agency continues to optimise the firefighting process at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, through water bombing from the air using helicopters.