Study shows decreasing level of lead in children's blood
Study shows decreasing level of lead in children's blood
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Phasing out leaded gasoline in Jakarta since 2001 has apparently
satisfying results.
A study held by a team of the University of Indonesia's (UI)
Environmental Health Department from January to March this year
shows that the lead content in blood samples of elementary school
students has dropped to 4.2 microns per centiliter from 8.6
microns in 2001, when the leaded gasoline phase-out program
began.
"The result of the study indicates that the leaded gasoline
phase-out program has been fruitful in reducing lead content in
human blood," Budi Haryanto, the UI team coordinator, told The
Jakarta Post over the weekend.
A high level of lead, which usually enters the human body
through air and food, can damage brain cells, marrow, kidneys and
other vital organs. The tolerable lead in human blood is 10
microns per centiliter.
Budi revealed that blood samples were taken from 200 third and
fourth graders of 20 elementary schools in five municipalities.
Each school was represented by 10 students -- five girls and five
boys.
Budi said the team chose elementary school students as the
subjects in the study "because they are at the most susceptible
age to the impact of lead on the human body".
According to Budi, some 80 percent of lead in the environment
is contributed by vehicular emissions. Other resources are
manufactured goods like paints, canned foods, batteries and
electronic waste.
Responding to pressure by environmentalist, the central
government has required state oil and gas company Pertamina to
supply only unleaded gasoline to fuel stations in the capital.
Unleaded gasoline is also sold in Bali, Batam and Cirebon.
According to ministerial decree No. 1585.K/32/MPE/1999 issued
by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources on the
requirements of gasoline and diesel sales, Pertamina is required
to supply only unleaded gasoline to the domestic market, as per
Jan. 1, 2003.
The regulation has yet to upheld by the government.
Responding to the government not upholding the law, the
Committee for Leaded Fuel Phase-Out (KPBB) has lodged complaints
against the ministry.
KPBB chairman Ahmad Safrudin said his organization demanded
that the ministry immediately phase out leaded gasoline.
"If the ministry ignores our complaints, we will report the
ministry to the police for ignoring its own decree on the leaded
gasoline phase-out program," Ahmad told the Post, adding that it
would file suit in June.