Sunday Morning: Jakarta's Air Quality Enters Unhealthy Category

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The air quality in Jakarta has entered the unhealthy category and ranks as the seventh worst in the world, so the public is advised to wear masks when outside, according to the IQAir website on Sunday morning, updated at 06:00 WIB.

Jakarta’s air quality stands at 139, with the PM2.5 fine particle concentration at 51.1 micrograms per cubic metre, which can harm sensitive humans or animal groups or cause damage to plants or aesthetic values.

The public is urged to maintain health and wear masks when engaging in outdoor activities.

Meanwhile, good air quality is the level that has no effect on human or animal health and does not impact plants, buildings, or aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 0-50.

Then, the moderate category is air quality that does not affect human or animal health, but impacts sensitive plants and aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 51-100.

Cities with the worst air quality on Sunday are first Delhi (India) at 330, second Chiang Mai (Thailand) at 184, third Kathmandu (Nepal) at 163, fourth Shenzhen (China) at 154, and fifth Chengdu (China) at 152.

Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing a rapid response to tackle air pollution in the capital during the dry season, predicted from early May to August.

The quick handling measures for air pollution during the dry season include improving the air quality monitoring system and motor vehicle emission testing.

In addition, the DKI Provincial Government also has an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) that is being evaluated from various aspects, from PM2.5 trends, sectoral emission loads to its impacts on public health.

According to the DKI Provincial Government, air pollution control cannot be done by one region partially, so integrated joint actions are needed between regional government organisations as well as cross-regional collaboration around Jakarta.