Air quality in Pekanbaru

Does this level of pollution remain constant in Pekanbaru?

Air pollution can be affected by many things and, as such, can change very quickly according to local conditions.

Looking back at figures published by the Swiss air monitoring company IQAir.com for 2020 it can be seen that the air quality did not vary too much throughout the entire year. For the whole 12 months Pekanbaru enjoyed “Moderate” quality air with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. Historically, records were first kept in 2019 when the annual average figure was 52.8 µg/m³. But 2020 showed a vast improvement when figures recorded were noted to be 24.2 µg/m³. However, this may not be an accurate reflection of the air quality because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer used as the drivers were furloughed and not required to commute to and from work. There were also many factories and other non-essential production units which were temporarily closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

What are the main sources of air pollution in Pekanbaru?

In the current era of industrialisation and modernisation, the biggest source of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels, and it is also the most dangerous source of air pollution.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources such as crude oil, gasoline, diesel, coal and others. This fuel is used in almost every process of industrialisation, manufacturing, transportation and power generation. Humans also rely on means of transportation such as cars, planes, trains, trucks and others. In their activities, humans use the results of burning fossil fuels. Although it produces energy, the combustion products release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere and harm all living things in the vicinity.

In rural areas, the main source of air pollution is the practice of burning crops or uncontrolled burning of land. In moderation, it is a useful method of control in agriculture. But uncontrolled crop burning causes significant air pollution. Agricultural activities also use ammonia, one of the most dangerous gases in the atmosphere. The use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers in agricultural activities is also a lot. This results in the release of harmful chemicals into the air and even causes water pollution.

The manufacturing industry releases large amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds and chemicals into the air, reducing air quality. The manufacturing industry can be found all over the world and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Oil refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause soil pollution.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Pekanbaru?

The government has actually made efforts to improve Jakarta's air quality, for example: improving public transportation services, KRL, busway, LRT/MRT; promotion of environmentally friendly fuels, the addition of car-free day locations; expansion of the odd-even vehicle rule; addition and renewal of green open space; etc. Air quality monitoring is also being further improved by planning the addition of a standardized air quality monitoring device.

Smoke from private vehicles is one of the main contributors to congestion and air pollution in cities. By switching from private vehicles to public transportation, air pollution due to vehicle fumes can be reduced.

Cycling or walking is an easy way to do when you want to travel a short distance. Besides not producing pollution, cycling and walking are also good for body health.

However, you are advised to avoid busy and congested highways or roads when walking or cycling to avoid exposure to vehicle smoke pollution.

Some people may think that burning garbage can reduce the problem of landfilling. In fact, this bad habit is one of the causes of air pollution.

The smoke from burning waste is harmful to the health of the body because it contains toxic substances.

Exposure to smoke from burning garbage or smog in the long term is known to increase the risk of various health problems, such as respiratory infections, heart and lung disorders, COPD, and cancer.

How does this polluted air in Pekanbaru affect human health?

PM2.5 and PM10 are often the main parameters of the Air Quality Index. This is because PM10 can enter the lungs and cause respiratory problems. PM2.5 can even penetrate the lung barrier and seep into the bloodstream, making it more dangerous. PM2.5 is a particle with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres and below and is often invisible to the naked eye. As for PM10, the diameter is 10 micrometres and below.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates PM2.5 to be the main trigger of 4.2 million deaths due to air pollution in 2016. PM2.5 has been shown to cause cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer diseases. Therefore, WHO set the threshold for PM2.5 and PM10 in the air, as low as possible. The WHO threshold for PM2.5 in air is 25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) on a daily basis. For PM10, the threshold is 50 µg/m³for 24 hour’s duration.