Riau air pollution reaches dangerous level

Riau has grappled with severe air pollution for the past week as land and forest fires continue
to spread. In the Mandau and Pinggir districts in Bengkalis regency, air pollution has already
reached dangerous levels.

Based on Riau Land and Forest Fires Emergency Task Force data, the air pollution standard
index (ISPU) in Duri Camp, Mandau district, stood at 361 PSI, a dangerous level, on
Monday. Three days before, the air pollution level in Duri even reached 460 PSI. Schools in
Bengkalis gave their students a two-day vacation due to the worsening haze.

The air quality is considered good if the ISPU is below 50 PSI, moderate if 101-199 and
unhealthy if 101-199. Meanwhile, air with an ISPU level of 200-299 PSI is considered very
unhealthy and dangerous if it reaches beyond 300 PSI.

In Pekanbaru, haze has led to severe air pollution, in which the ISPU decreased to an
unhealthy level of 162 PSI on Monday. The air quality in Dumai, Kampar and Rokan Hilir
was also unhealthy, with ISPU readings of 166, 144 and 184 PSI, respectively.

On Sunday, the air pollution in Dumai reached a dangerous level, with the ISPU standing at
369 PSI. Despite the severe air pollution, schools in Dumai have not yet decided to close.

We are still waiting for recommendations from the Dumai environment and health agencies.
A temporary school closure can be applied only through a decree from the Dumai mayor, the
Dumai Education Agencys secondary education head Misdiono said. (ebf)

Source : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/29/riau-air-pollution-reaches-
dangerous-level.html
Reason

The reason I chose this article as an important environmental health issues are
the forest fires which occurred in Riau was not only happens one time as well as the damage
that happened not only against environmental conditions alone but rather affect the
surrounding citizens, both residents of the city or beyond.

If a forest fire and land is not resolved quickly, the fire will continue
to spread and any resulting air pollution is getting worse. According to the
article itself, the air quality is considered good if the ISPU is below 50 PSI, moderate if 101-
199 and unhealthy if 101-199. Meanwhile, water with an ISPU level of 200 300 PSI is
considered very unhealthy and dangerous if it reaches beyond 300 PSI. Sadly in fact, the air
pollution in Damai reached a dangerous level, with the ISPU standing at 369 PSI on Sunday.

Based on Riau Health Agency data, the number of patients with haze-related illnesses
in Riau reached 100,234 in 2015, 84,203 of whom suffered from ISPA, followed by patients
with skin irritations (6,067), eye irritations (4,771), asthma (3,872) and 1,321 people with
pneumonia. (souce: JakartaPost.com)

Lack of health agent in Riau have resulted so many patient with haze-related illnesses
and also, the action from responsible people was so minimum. In fact, even knowing the air
condition is very unheatlhy some schools in Dumai have not yet decided to close. If someone
find a quick way to solve a problem of air pollution and could prevent it, there is no more
patients with haze related illness in Riau.

Saarah Thifal Aini

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