Jakarta actually has an air quality ranking of 44 among other countries. There is a difference in the measurement and indicatorJakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar has said that Jakarta's air quality is not the worst in the world, as reported by the IQ Air agency.
"That is the result of monitoring analysis using certain methods from the private sector. There are several instruments that they use. I do not mean to defend myself, but there are different instruments used here," Bakar noted at the State Palace, Monday.
Based on her analysis, Jakarta's air quality ranking stood at 44 out of several other countries.
"Jakarta actually has an air quality ranking of 44 among other countries. There is a difference in the measurement and indicator," she affirmed.
Related news: Workshops in Jakarta obligated to have emission test kit: Official
Bakar addressed that the methods used in assessing the air quality should also be observed and not merely the results of assessment.
"After that, we must also follow up on the assessment result. That is the most important aspect," the minister noted.
Earlier, the air quality data agency IQ Air ranked Jakarta as the most polluted city in the world, with an air quality index of 193 on Monday morning.
As cited from the official website of IQ Air in Jakarta, air quality in the capital city was categorized as unhealthy since the concentration of PM2.5 was currently 27.4 times the World Health Organization's (WHO's) annual air quality guideline. The concentration of PM2.5 in Jakarta was at 136.9 grams per cubic meter.
Related news: Jakarta urged to prevent COVID spike as subvariants emerge
PM2.5 refers to certain microscopic materials, with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, with various detrimental effects on human health and the environment. It is also used as one of the main pollutants to calculate the air quality in one city or a country.
Based on the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency's (BMKG's) analysis, the high PM2.5 concentration in Jakarta is influenced by various emission sources, both from local sources, such as transportation and residential areas, as well as from regional sources from industrial areas close to Jakarta.
Globally, the air quality in Jakarta on Monday was ranked the worst above Santiago in Chile, with an index of 175, and Johannesburg in South Africa, with an index of 158.
In addition, IQ Air places Sedingin Village in Riau as the area with the cleanest air quality in Indonesia, with an eight index score.
Related news: Communities suggest JIS to be officially renamed after MH Thamrin
Related news: KAI Commuter conducts trial at new Matraman Station
Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
