Unhealthy, Jakarta’s Air Quality This Morning Ranks Second Worst in the World

Unhealthy, Jakarta's Air Quality This Morning Ranks Second Worst in the World (photo: media indonesia - ramdani)
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In the early morning of Wednesday (12/7/2023), the air quality in Jakarta was alarmingly poor and categorized as unhealthy. According to data gathered by IQAir, the pollution level in the capital city reached a staggering 170, earning Jakarta the undesirable position of being the second worst city in the world in terms of air pollution.

This high pollution level indicates that the air in Jakarta is no longer safe for people to breathe while going about their daily activities. The concentration of PM2.5 pollutants, a particulate matter known for its harmful effects on human health, currently stands at 89.5µg/m³. To put this into perspective, it is nearly 18 times higher than the recommended annual air quality guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Accompanying these concerning air quality measurements, the weather conditions in Jakarta on that day recorded a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, humidity at 84 percent, wind speed of only 7.4 km/h, and atmospheric pressure of 1011 mbar.

The current quality ranking of Jakarta, with its red indicator, emphasizes the fact that the air is no longer safe for human activities. This indicator system employs other color codes, such as orange to signify quality that is unhealthy for sensitive individuals, purple indicating very unhealthy conditions, black representing hazardous air quality, green indicating good quality, and yellow for moderate conditions.

With Jakarta’s air quality falling into the red category, the public is strongly advised to take precautions. This includes wearing masks while being outdoors to minimize the inhalation of pollutants, keeping windows closed to prevent the entry of polluted air, and avoiding outdoor physical activities that could lead to increased exposure to harmful pollutants.

Furthermore, it is recommended to utilize indoor air purifiers to ensure that the air inside homes and buildings remains clean and safe for occupants. By filtering out harmful particles, these devices can help maintain a healthier indoor environment.

The deteriorating air quality in Jakarta serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing pollution and implementing measures to improve its overall. Efforts should be focused on reducing emissions, promoting sustainable transportation options, and increasing public awareness of the impact of pollution on health.