Air quality in Banjarmasin

What is the current level of air pollution in Banjarmasin?

Banjarmasin is a city and the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is one of the main cities in South Kalimantan and covers an area of almost 100 square kilometres. According to a census conducted in 2020, the estimated population was approximately 657,663 people.

In September 2021, Banjarmasin was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 88. This United States Air Quality Index figure is worked out by taking note of the recorded levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants. These may include, both diameters of PM (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide. If figures are not available for all six, a level can still be calculated by using what information there is. It can then be used as a metric when comparing one city with another, anywhere in the world. There were three pollutants measured in Banjarmasin which were; PM2.5 - 29.8 µg/m³, PM10 - 31.9 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 76.8 µg/m³. The level of PM2.5 is almost three times the acceptable limit of 10 µg/m³ as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The given advice would be to stay indoors if possible and close doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more polluted air into the rooms. Sensitive groups should avoid venturing outside unless absolutely necessary and then a good quality mask should be worn. There is an app available for download from AirVisual which gives the latest information as to the state of the air.

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Does the level of air quality in Banjarmasin vary throughout the year?

Air quality can be very volatile and can therefore change quickly as dictated by atmospheric and meteorological conditions.

Looking back at the 2020 figures published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that the month with the dirtiest air was October with a reading of 10.4 µg/m³. Other than that, for the other eleven months of the year, Banjarmasin achieved the WHO target figure of 10 µg/m³ or less. The month with the cleanest air was April with a figure of 5.2 µg/m³.

There were no records regarding air quality held before 2020 when the recorded level was 7.3 µg/m³ which is below the WHO target once again. This latest reading may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as many vehicles were no longer in daily use as staff were encouraged to work from home in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. Many factories and non-essential production units were also required to close which removed their emissions from the atmosphere.

What is the main source of air pollution in Banjarmasin?

The entry of pollutants into the atmosphere that causes air pollution can be caused by two factors, namely natural factors and human factors. The cause of air pollution from natural factors, for example, is volcanic activity that emits volcanic ash and gases, forest fires, and the activities of microorganisms. Pollutants produced are usually in the form of smoke, dust, and gases.

The second cause of air pollution is the human factor with all its activities. Various human activities that can produce pollutants include burning; such as burning waste, burning in household activities, motor vehicles, and industrial activities. Pollutants produced include smoke, dust, grit (fine sand), and gas (carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides).

The Head of the Regional Environment Agency stated that air pollution in this area is currently more dominated by fine dust than smog due to forest fires. Fine dust pollution flying in the air currently exceeds the normal threshold of 230 micrograms per cubic meter, that is, the current average has increased between 243-245 micrograms per cubic meter.

Can anything be done to reduce air pollution in Banjarmasin?

In April 2021, Banjarmasin enrolled in what is known as “The Blue Sky Program” for 6 months. This basically is intended to educate the residents as to the benefits of using a higher-octane fuel in their vehicles. This Blue Sky program targets 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicle drivers and public transportation with yellow plates who can enjoy this program. It is hoped that these motorists will use the fuel with good quality and of course be environmentally friendly, and hopefully, people can become more comfortable using public transportation with low pollution. In addition to reducing air pollution, low octane fuel is also not recommended for use with newer vehicles, which is explained in the manual to use a minimum of 92 octane fuel.

The first step that can be taken to reduce air pollution in Banjarmasin is to minimize the use of private vehicles. The reason is, this situation occurs because of the large amount of exhaust fumes produced by vehicles, whether cars or motorcycles. Vehicles that are not regularly and regularly maintained are more at risk of polluting the air around them. This is caused by a faulty engine and oil that has never been changed. Therefore, always schedule car maintenance every time.

What are the effects of breathing in polluted air in Banjarmasin?

Air pollution that occurs is triggered by certain forms of gas, liquid, and solid that are carried in the air. Particles come from aerosols, dust, factory fumes, forest fires, motor vehicle fumes and cigarette smoke. Some of the pollutants that usually spread are heavy metals, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O₃), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and sulphur dioxide (SO₂). Indonesia itself is included in the ranks of countries with a fairly high level of pollution.

The impact of air pollution from vehicle fumes, factory smoke, cigarette smoke, and others can trigger respiratory problems, such as asthma, ARI, and lung cancer. In addition, air pollution can also end in reduced oxygen levels in the human body. Not only the respiratory tract, the circulatory system can also be disrupted due to the impact of air pollution. This is caused by the large amount of carbon monoxide (CO), which makes the levels of inflammatory proteins and the amount of blood viscosity increase. That's what triggers inflammation of the blood vessels that can lead to cardiovascular disease.

For pregnant women, air pollution is also very dangerous for themselves and their foetuses. The impact of air pollution on pregnant women can trigger inflammation throughout the body and trigger premature birth. As for the foetus, this condition can lead to miscarriage, asthma for the child in the future, and trigger autism.