TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Based on IQAir’s PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI), Jakarta’s air quality scored 184 that suggests the air is unhealthy as the city celebrates its 493rd anniversary.

The pollutant concentration at the time of observation showed 118.8 µg/cubic meter, which is far from the standard normal level of 25 µg/cubic meter set by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, at 12:39 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), the AQI level only slightly dropped to 111.

IQAir collects the data from 10 stations spread across 5 areas in Jakarta.

Jakarta’s air had worsened significantly after the city administration enacted the transitional PSBB (large-scale social restriction), which is meant to bridge the full-on quarantine to the ‘new normal’ phase announced by the government.

The introduction of the transitional PSBB saw many streets in Jakarta be packed again with traffic congestion, especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours.

The PM2.5 are microparticles from combustion residue of fossil fuel, coal-powered power plants, and transportation. Such pollutants can cause pneumonia, respiratory problems, and cancer, protective equipment that people can use against it are face masks that can filter out these microparticles such as the N95 masks.

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IMAM HAMDI