The air quality in Jakarta, the bustling capital city of Indonesia, continues to face concerning challenges. On this Friday morning, July 7, 2023, the situation worsened compared to the previous day. According to the latest data from IQAir, an authoritative source on air quality, Jakarta’s pollution index reached a distressing level of 137, placing it among the top five worst cities in the world at 08:52 AM WIB.
This high pollution level implies that the air in Jakarta is far from being healthy and poses significant risks, particularly for individuals with respiratory problems.
The severity of the situation is reflected in the concentration of PM2.5, a harmful particulate matter, which currently stands at 50µg/m³. This concentration is a staggering ten times higher than the annual quality guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO), raising concerns about the long-term health impacts on the city’s residents.
Alongside the alarming air pollution levels, Jakarta is currently experiencing a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, accompanied by a humidity level of 75 percent. The wind speed registers at 11.1 km/h, while the atmospheric pressure remains steady at 1014 mbar.
The air quality ranking of Jakarta, labeled with an orange color code, highlights the critical situation faced by the city’s inhabitants. An orange designation indicates that the air is unhealthy, especially for those who are particularly sensitive to respiratory issues.
Moreover, it emphasizes the disparity between Jakarta’s air quality and that of other cities worldwide. The color codes further illustrate the severity of the situation, with purple signifying very unhealthy air, black indicating hazardous conditions, green representing good air quality, and yellow denoting moderate levels.
As Jakarta grapples with the ongoing challenges of poor air quality, authorities urge residents to take necessary precautions to safeguard their health. Wearing masks when venturing outdoors, closing windows to prevent polluted air infiltration, and avoiding outdoor physical activities are essential steps to minimize exposure to harmful pollutants.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to utilize air purifiers indoors, ensuring that the air they breathe within their homes or offices is of better quality.
The deteriorating air quality in Jakarta calls for concerted efforts from relevant stakeholders to address the root causes and implement sustainable measures for improvement. Mitigating pollution requires a collective commitment from government bodies, industries, and citizens alike, as the well-being and respiratory health of Jakarta’s population remain at stake.
