Tangerang Selatan once again claimed the unfortunate title of the city with the worst air pollution in Indonesia this Friday morning, December 12th. According to IQAir data recorded at 07:02 AM WIB, the air quality in Tangerang Selatan was deemed “unhealthy”, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 155.
Such an unhealthy air quality classification, as seen in Tangerang Selatan, indicates a potential risk to the general public. Specifically, sensitive groups including children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions are particularly vulnerable to experiencing adverse health effects.
“When air quality is categorized as ‘unhealthy’, the general public, especially sensitive groups, may begin to experience health effects,” an IQAir statement highlighted on Friday, December 12th, underscoring the immediate concerns posed by elevated pollution levels.
In light of these conditions, IQAir strongly recommends that residents reduce their outdoor activities. Adding to this caution, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has also repeatedly advised the public to wear masks, particularly when in areas with high levels of air contamination, as a precautionary measure.
Beyond Tangerang Selatan, several other Indonesian cities also reported concerning air quality this morning. Here is the list of the top five cities in Indonesia with the worst air quality:
- Tangerang Selatan: AQI 155, categorized as unhealthy
- Medan: AQI 137, categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups
- Bekasi: AQI 129, categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups
- Bandung: AQI 124, categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups
- Jakarta: AQI 116, categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups
In a refreshing contrast, Bogor emerged as the city with the healthiest air quality in Indonesia this morning, boasting an excellent AQI of 39, falling into the “good” category. It was closely followed by Badung, which recorded an AQI of 53, placing it in the “moderate” category.
On a global scale, major cities enjoying the healthiest air quality this morning included Tokyo, Japan, with an impressively low AQI of 6. Helsinki, Finland, followed with an AQI of 7, and Canberra, Australia, recorded an AQI of 11. All three cities proudly stood in the “good” air quality category.
However, mirroring Indonesia’s domestic struggles, several prominent global cities experienced dire air quality conditions this Friday morning, December 12th, marking a stark contrast to the world’s cleanest urban environments:
- Delhi, India: AQI 424, a critically hazardous level
- Lahore, Pakistan: AQI 330, also in the hazardous category
- Hanoi, Vietnam: AQI 289, indicating very unhealthy air
- Kolkata, India: AQI 281, also struggling with very unhealthy air
- Kuwait City, Kuwait: AQI 232, categorized as very unhealthy
The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a critical measure, reflecting the concentration of air pollutants and classifying air quality into various categories. An AQI of 0-50, typically associated with PM 2.5 levels, signifies “good” air quality. The “moderate” category ranges from PM 2.5 levels of 51-100, while air deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups” falls within PM 2.5 levels of 101-150.
Progressing to more severe levels, an AQI indicating “unhealthy” air corresponds to PM 2.5 levels between 151-200. Furthermore, an AQI in the range of 200-299 signifies “very unhealthy” conditions, where prolonged exposure can demonstrably harm the health of segments of the exposed population, posing significant public health concerns.
The most alarming category, “hazardous,” applies when PM 2.5 levels soar between 300-500. Air quality reaching this hazardous threshold carries severe and widespread health implications for the entire human population, demanding immediate and drastic protective measures.
