Most vehicles fail standard emission tests

Most vehicles fail standard emission tests

JAKARTA (JP): The first day of emission tests on 200 vehicles
found that most produced high levels of hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide and smoke in comparison to permitted levels.

The tests, carried out on a sample 100 vehicles using gas and
100 others using diesel fuel, took place on Jl. Raya Bekasi, East
Jakarta, yesterday.

"Eighty percent of the vehicles using gas received red
stickers, meaning that they produce too many pollutants," a staff
member of the city environmental bureau said. The vehicles
included one new Kijang minivan and several motor-bikes.

The emissions detector -- attached to the vehicles' exhaust
system -- indicated, for instance, rates of carbon monoxide above
seven, as compared to the tolerable level of 4.5, which is
specified in a 1990 gubernatorial decree.

Overexposure to carbon dioxide leads to headaches, a drop in
blood pressure and breathing difficulties, among other known
effects.

The bureau's staff member, requesting anonymity, said the
figures for diesel fuel vehicles will be released today.

Red stickers bearing the words "Emission above permitted
rates" were stuck on public and private vehicles by officials
involved in the campaign, conducted in conjunction with World
Environment Day.

Green stickers stating "Emission below permitted rates" were
given to a comparatively few vehicles.

The tests are planned to continue today and tomorrow, and
again on June 18 - 20. Another series of tests are planned for
December.

At the testing site, response from car owners appeared to be
positive, as they formed a line waiting for tests and their
results. No one seemed be complaining, witnesses said, but
opinions were divided on whether the traffic congestion at the
test site was worse due to the tests.

Today, tests will be conducted on Jl. Merdeka Barat, Central
Jakarta and tomorrow on Jl. Raya Bogor. On June 18, the tests
will be carried out on Jl. Gunung Sahari; on June 19, along Jl.
Daan Mogot, West Jakarta; and on June 20 in Lenteng Agung, Depok.

Passing motorists not selected for testing are also handed a
two-page notice which provides information on permitted emission
levels based on the 1990 rule.

The notice also includes a table listing the effects of
overexposure to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide, hydrocarbon, dust and smoke.

Given the short duration of the tests, however, current checks
are only focusing on emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon
and smoke.

Motorists who received red stickers were urged to bring their
vehicles to service stations. They were also given handwritten
copies of their emissions rates as depicted on the screen
connected to the emission detector.

"Those who received green stickers were encouraged to maintain
their levels," the environmental bureau official said.

Officials conducting the tests were also from the city land
transport agency and the city police, who noted down
the license numbers of the two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles.

The license plates will serve as records when vehicle owners
apply for renewal of their vehicle documents. City police will
check whether applicants' vehicle emissions have met city
standards, Aboejoewono, the head of the environmental bureau said
earlier.

In his address at a technical meeting for environment
officials, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
said yesterday that measures taken with private and public
vehicles are the beginning of efforts towards creating more
economic and legal instruments to reduce pollution.

The current emission checks follow earlier ones conducted
since 1991, but this year boasts the highest number of locations.

Aboejoewono said the campaign is still necessary, given the
fact that since 1991, the transportation sector is still the main
source of around 67 percent of air pollution.

Despite the current figures of 1.8 million private vehicles
and 700,000 public vehicles in use, an officer in charge of air
pollution said people still blame the pollution problem on public
vehicles.

"Although the sanctions of this campaign seems to only be red
stickers for offenders, the message is that every motorist
contributes to pollution," Margana Koesoemadinata of the
Environmental Impact Management Agency said after addressing a
seminar on dust and fume control technologies. (anr)