May 21, 2026 | 09:21 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta's air quality on Thursday morning fell into the unhealthy category, ranking first among cities with the worst air quality in the world. Residents are advised to wear masks when outdoors.According to data from the air quality monitoring website IQAir, at 6:01 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the air quality index (AQI) in Jakarta was at 170, categorized as unhealthy, with PM2.5 air pollution at a concentration of 82 micrograms per cubic meter.This figure indicates that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, as it can harm humans and sensitive animals, or cause damage to plants or aesthetic values.The website also recommends that residents avoid outdoor activities. If outside, wear a mask and close windows to avoid exposure to polluted outdoor air.Good air quality is defined as air quality that does not impact human or animal health and does not affect plants, buildings, or aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 0-50.The next category is moderate, meaning air quality does not affect human or animal health but does affect sensitive plants and aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 51-100.Furthermore, the very unhealthy category is a PM2.5 range of 200-299, meaning air quality could be detrimental to the health of some segments of the exposed population. Finally, the hazardous category (300-500) means air quality could generally pose a serious health risk to the population.The city with the second-worst air quality is Santiago (Chile) with a score of 157, followed by Kampala (Uganda) with a score of 152, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) with a score of 128, and Dhaka (Bangladesh) with a score of 126.The Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing a rapid response to address air pollution in the capital during the dry season, which is predicted to occur from early May to August.These rapid measures to address air pollution during the dry season include improving the quality of air quality monitoring systems and conducting vehicle emission tests.Furthermore, the Jakarta Provincial Government also has an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) that is currently being evaluated from various aspects, including PM2.5 trends, emission loads by sector, and its impact on public health.According to the Jakarta Provincial Government, air pollution control cannot be implemented by one region in isolation, requiring integrated, joint action between regional government agencies and cross-regional collaboration around Jakarta.Read: Mask Up! Jakarta Air Quality Classified Unhealthy This MorningClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
