7 Ways to Protect Lungs from Air Pollution

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director of the Pusat Persahabatan Hospital (RSUP Persahabtan) Jakarta Prof. Dr. dr. Agus Dwi Susanto shares seven measures to protect the lungs from air pollution. As widely reported, Jakarta's air quality has been worrisome for the past two months as it has been classified as unhealthy.

“The first and most crucial thing to do is to monitor the real-time air quality index through existing applications that can be downloaded or accessed via a smartphone,” the pulmonologist said.

The professor of pulmonology and respiratory medicine at the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine explained that an air quality index of 1-50 is deemed good or in the green category, 51-100 is moderate or in the blue category, 101-150 is unhealthy or in the yellow category, 151-200 is unhealthy for sensitive groups or in the orange category, 201-300 is very unhealthy or in the red category, and 301 and above is hazardous or in the black category.

“What also needs to be considered is the PM 2.5 level because the air quality figures in IQ Air (air quality monitoring application) are just an index unless the PM level is clearly stated in the app,” he explained, referring to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in width.

Concentrations of PM 2.5 could increase due to heat, fires, and air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that it can contain material that causes respiratory problems.

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