Assessment of Urban Air Quality in Indonesia

Abstract

This study assessed the urban air quality in 16 large Indonesian cities on the islands of Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua from 2010 till 2017. 24-h samples of airborne particulate matter (PM) in two size fractions, PM 2.5 (< 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter) and PM 2.5-10 (2.5-10 µm in aerodynamic diameter), were collected weekly using a Gent stacked filter unit sampler and then analyzed for their mass concentrations, black carbon (BC) content, and elemental compositions. The majority of the average annual PM 2.5 concentrations measured at the Java sites (Bandung, Jakarta, Semarang, and Surabaya) exceeded the Indonesian annual ambient air quality standard (15 µg m-3), although the other tested locations, excluding Pekanbaru and Palangka Raya, exhibited values below the standard. During the forest fire episodes of 2015, the average daily PM 2.5 concentrations in Pekanbaru and Palangka Raya rose above the national daily ambient standard (65 µg m-3). The percentage of BC, which is associated with traffic emission and biomass burning, averaged between 15% and 26% (a significant fraction) in the PM 2.5. The concentrations of the major elements in the PM 2.5 , viz., Si, S, K, Fe, Zn, and Pb, varied widely from site to site, although all of the locations displayed enhanced levels of the crustal elements Si and S, which originated from unpaved roads and volcanic eruptions, and vehicle fuel, forest fires, and volcanic emissions, respectively. Significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, and Pb in Surabaya and Pb in Tangerang) were found at the heavily industrialized sites, demonstrating the effect of local industrial emissions on air quality. Our results, which are based on a crucial survey of PM concentrations and compositions in Indonesia, provide a scientific basis for * Corresponding author.

Relation between occupants’ health problems, demographic and indoor environment subjective evaluations: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey study in Java Island, Indonesia

“…and Palangka Raya were lower than the national standard [28]. These observations are consistent with the respondents' perceptions in our survey.…”

“…Santoso et al (2020) conducted a quantitative measurement of airborne particulate matter (PM) and black carbon content; they revealed that the average annual PM 2.5 concentrations between 2010 and 2017 in most of the urban districts of Java Island (Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta) were higher than the Indonesian annual ambient air quality standard (15 μg.m -3 ). Conversely, the rural areas observed in Pekanbaru and Palangka Raya were lower than the national standard [ 28 ]. These observations are consistent with the respondents’ perceptions in our survey.…”

Multi-Sensor Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Properties for Near-Real-Time Applications Using the Metop Series of Satellites: Concept, Detailed Description, and First Validation

“…Dust events were observed in Arabia and North Africa, crossing the Atlantic toward the west. Extreme pollution in Xinjiang Chinese province (dust event, coal fires, and industries in the Tarim Basin and Ala Shan plateau [65]) was also well captured, and with a smaller magnitude around the Beijing basin, in North India, or Indonesia [66].…”

The Impact of Air Pollution on Gut Microbiota and Children’s Health: An Expert Consensus

“…A 2020 study conducted in 16 large, Indonesian cities showed that the majority of the average annual PM 2.5 exceeded the Indonesian annual ambient air quality standard (15 µg m −3 ), owing mostly to traffic emissions and biomass burning. Volcanic emissions, as well as forest and peat fires, also affect some of the cities in Indonesia [ 6 ]. However, there has been no agreement yet among clinicians and researchers in Indonesia regarding how the air pollution in the urban Indonesian context affects children’s health, especially through microbiota dysbiosis.…”