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)