Beware of Air Pollution, This Is Bad for Health!

Reported by various mass media, the level of air pollution in Jakarta in recent times has reached an alarming stage. This was triggered by various things that happened, thus requiring a wise attitude from every element of society.

Awareness of this pollution is certainly good if it is owned by more and more people, including you who are reading this article. Because with its awareness you can realize that there is also the impact of air pollution that is too heavy on the health of the body.

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Current State of Air Pollution

Reporting from Tempo's official website atnasional.tempo.co, the level of pollution that is happening in Jakarta and its surroundings really needs serious attention. Even though in the DKI Jakarta area it occupies the 8th position, the PM 2.5 level recorded reached 155.

The worst was the air condition in South Tangerang, with a PM 2.5 level of 181. Apart from these two areas, the other eight areas were Pontianak City, Bandung City, Mempawah, Gedongtataan, Serang, Terentang, Sleman and Banjarbaru Regencies.

PM 2.5 itself is an air particle that is smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers so that it can have a negative impact on human health and the environment.

Impact of Air Pollution on Health

Air quality in Jakarta which is not good will certainly have an impact or risk on various things, one of which is health. You also need to know that poor air quality can also trigger the risk of cancer and some of the following health problems.

1. Respiratory System Problems

The most obvious risk is of course related to the respiratory system that everyone has. When air that is dirty and full of pollutants enters the respiratory system, these pollutants can trigger tissue damage in every part of the system.

The risks that arise include asthma, emphysema, respiratory infections, to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Continuous exposure to pollutants can also trigger chronic bronchitis.

2. The emergence of Cardiovascular Disorders

The second risk is the emergence of cardiovascular disorders. Problems that can arise are problems with blood vessels and the heart, which are caused by exposure to substances belonging to this group particulate matter. When it enters the respiratory system, these particles will also enter the blood vessels.

The resulting effect is a disturbance in the function of blood vessels, and increases the potential for plaque to form in the arteries. This plaque will trigger another chain of effects, until it reaches the coronary artery phase.

3. Risk of Interference with Pregnancy

Disturbances to the fetus in the womb of a mother can also occur due to air pollution. Because poor quality will also have a negative impact on the condition of the mother who is pregnant, and the fetus in her womb. It is not impossible for babies to be born with low weight, emotional disturbances, and children's cognitive disturbances when they grow up.

4. Neurodegenerative problems

The occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders is also a result of poor air levels in the Jakarta area, or other areas in Indonesia. This disorder targets the area of ​​the nerves due to decreased brain function. When this happens, the risks that arise are Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other forms of dementia.

5. Cancer

Not only problems with breathing, air pollution that is too severe can also trigger an increased risk of various types of cancer. Lung cancer is definitely one of them, but there is also a risk of breast cancer in women who are constantly exposed to air pollution.

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Air Pollution Triggers

Of course, not a few also wonder what the cause of the poor air quality in Jakarta and its surroundings is actually. Various parties carry out the analysis, and each provides a claim that is different from one another.

According to the BMKG, the dense air pollution in Jakarta is due to Indonesia entering the dry season. In this season, pollution can increase because there is not much rain and the pollutants are not washed out, so they remain in the air.

Another party said that the pollution that occurs in Jakarta arises from the fumes of motorized vehicles that are used by Jakarta residents every day. This makes sense, because during the last pandemic, the air in Jakarta tended to be of good quality thanks to the implementation of travel bans.

However, this also cannot be fully justified, because the existence of several power plants and industrial activities that produce large amounts of waste are also considered to have played a role in the decline in air quality in Jakarta.

Of course, the various experts who expressed their opinions are continuing to carry out studies and research, to obtain valid data to take the most appropriate steps to improve Jakarta's air. In your own opinion, what exactly makes Jakarta's air so bad?

Simple Ways to Reduce Air Pollution

Whatever the source of the problem that is the mastermind of this poor air quality, various small steps that can be started from yourself and those closest to you can actually be done. In short, here are some simple steps you can take to actively participate in returning Jakarta's air quality to a relatively good level.

• Pay attention to daily consumption patterns

For example, by using environmentally friendly and recyclable products, reducing single-use products, and choosing durable products. Thus, you can reduce the production of final waste.

• Using public transportation

Because the capacity of public transportation is greater than private vehicles. If calculated with the waste produced, the comparison will make much more sense for air quality.

• Save energy in electricity use

This can be done by turning off unused lights, reducing excessive use of air conditioning, and starting to switch to energy-efficient appliances.

• Actively plant trees

Well maybe the effect will not be felt in the short term. But when this becomes a habit, the urban environment will be much greener, and the capacity of the environment to 'process' air with concentrated pollutants into clean air will be even greater.

• Using Organic Products

Start choosing organic products over conventional products and choose local food ingredients.

• Maintaining the Condition of the Surrounding Environment

Raise awareness on the importance of maintaining the condition of the environment and surrounding air with small steps that become a daily routine.

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Awareness of bad air conditions is a good starting point to understand how much influence the environment has on the condition of the body and the risk of various diseases. Making small changes that turn into a lifestyle is the key so that someone can participate directly in the process of reducing air pollution where they live.

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Reference:

• https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1761883/10-wilayah-dengan-polusi-udara-terburuk-di-indonesia-hari-initangerang-selatan-nomor-1
• https://rendahemisi.jakarta.go.id/article/174/dampak-polusi-udara-bagi-kesehatan-warga-jakarta
• https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/kualitas-udara-jakarta-memburuk-ini-dampaknya-untuk-kesehatan
• https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20230816114723-4-463466/polusi-udara-di-jakarta-makin-parah-bmkg-akhirnya-buka-suara
• https://www.kompas.com/edu/read/2023/08/20/083500471/pakar-umm--ini-penyebab-polusi-udara-di-jakarta-berikut-solusinya?page=all
• https://www.liputan6.com/hot/read/5374544/9-cara-mengurangi-polusi-udara-di-perkotaan-menurut-ahli-lingkungan
• https://linebank.co.id/blog/general/cara-yang-bisa-dilakukan-untuk-mengurangi-polusi-udara-jakarta/
• https://www.zurich.co.id/id-id/blog/articles/2019/08/5-cara-yang-bisa-anda-lakukan-untuk-mengurangi-polusi-udara-di-jakarta