IQ Air Ranks Jakarta Air Quality the Worst in the World

TheIndonesia.id - Air quality data agency IQ Air again put Jakarta as the city with the worst air quality in the world on Friday morning. The air quality data institute, IQ Air, through its official website in Jakarta, noted that air quality in Jakarta as of 07.50 WIB reached an index of 160.

The air quality index based on United States standards (AQ US) classifies an index of 151 to 200 as an unhealthy air category. The concentration of "particulate matter" (PM) 2.5 is 14.6 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. PM 2.5 is the smallest air pollutant and is harmful to the health of the body.

IQ Air advises people to wear masks, turn on the air purifier, close windows and avoid activities outside the home.

Previously, on Wednesday, June 15, Jakarta's air quality also occupied the first position in the world with an unhealthy air quality index of 188 at 11.00 WIB. Meanwhile, the sight of fog shrouding skyscrapers in Jakarta on Friday morning indicated poor air quality amidst cloudy weather in the capital.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, stated that the increased volume of vehicles was considered to trigger the capital's air quality to deteriorate. "Indeed, Jakarta is quite congested. Vehicles are returning to normal. There is an increase in pollution," said Riza, Thursday, June 16, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta Environment Agency (DLH) noted that on Wednesday, low air temperatures and high humidity levels caused the accumulation of pollutants, thereby encouraging air pollution in the capital city. "As a result, air pollutant pollutants accumulate in the troposphere," said Jakarta DLH Public Relations Officer Yogi Ikhwan.

Meanwhile, based on the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency's estimate on Friday, the air temperature in DKI Jakarta is in the range of a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius. The humidity level is estimated to be in the range of 75 to 100 percent.