A Group of IPB Students Observed Air Contamination Due to the New Year Eve Celebration in Bogor
A group of students of the Department of Geophysics and Meteorology (GFM), of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Bogor Agricultural University (FMIPA IPB) carried out the research program to observe air pollution at the Center for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management (CCROM) of the Institute of Research and Community Empowerment of IPB (LPPM), at IPB Campus, Baranangsiang, Bogor, on 31 December 2017. Observations were made to map out the atmospheric conditions and pollutant concentrations alternately by GFM students every ten minutes. In addition, the observation also provided daily chart information that shows fluctuations in concentrations of pollutants and measured particulate accumulation.
At 23.45 (11.45 pm) observation of fireworks began with four cameras left opened to record all parts of Bogor City, be East, South, West, North part of the city. This recording aims to see the effect of fireworks burned in the city of Bogor during the New Year's Eve celebration in 2018 to increase pollutant gas. Air pollution levels in Indonesia’s city, especially Bogor soared off the charts once again as hundreds of peole burst fire crackers to celebrate New Yeari, despite a Supreme Court ban on the sale of fireworks in Indonesia.
The results of air pollution showed that there are some contaminants that are increasing SOx, CO, and aerosol. It's difficult to get a real handle on exactly how polluted the air is in Bogor. The data is, well, murky. The increase mainly occurred at around 8.00 pm due to the increase in the number of vehicles in the city center and during the peak of the new year celebration at 0.00 AM in the morning. The number of aerosols containing particulate molecules increased by more than 300 percent during the peak of the New Year celebration by the number of fireworks and firecrackers lit up all over. While the concentration of CO reached more than double of normal conditions when the peak of the vehicle at 20.00 WIB.
Meanwhile, SOx concentrations increased to a high of 14 ppb, while CO concentrations increased to 1820.76 ppb and the number of aerosols increased to 125.8 ug. According to the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) 2002, the health standard for sulfur dioxide gas (SOx) is 80 µg/m3 (30 ppb); carbon monoxide (CO) gas is 10 µg/m3 (9000 ppb); and for particulate matter (aerosol) is 50 µg/m3 for one year (150 µg/m3). Based on these figures, the quality of air pollution in the city of Bogor on the eve of the New Year Celebration 2018 was in "normal status" although viewed from the concentration of each gas they showed significant increased from the usual conditions.
The average concentrations of gases above are quite dangerous, if their existence is above the threshold. At very high levels, carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas. Carbon monoxide can enter the body through the skin or by breathing it in through the lungs. It can cross the placenta and get into the baby’s blood. When a pregnant woman has carbon monoxide poisoning, the carbon monoxide does not get into the baby’s blood right away. Once it does get into the baby’s blood, it takes much longer for the baby to clear the carbon monoxide than it would in an adult. Increased carbon monoxide (CO) can lead to decreased fetal weight and increase the number of infant deaths and brain damage. Most municipalities add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to odorize natural gas, which is colorless and odourless. In excessive amounts, this gas can trigger asthma attacks in children and adults. When these gases react with water molecules and oxygen among other chemicals found in the atmosphere, mild acidic chemical compounds such as sulfuric and nitric acid are formed resulting to acid rain. Dust particles in exhaust emissions consist of a variety of components. Not only in the form of solids but also in the form of liquids that precipitate in dust particles. In the dust it contains dust itself and some of the most dangerous metal oxide content is the fine grains that can penetrate the innermost parts of the lungs.
As the turn of 2018 approaches, celebrations were getting underway across the world to welcome in the new year. Spectators waited with elation for the annual new year fireworks. The brightly coloured fireworks of New Year's festival of lights have faded and turned the air thundercloud-grey, bringing record levels of pollution to the city. If this condition also occurs in various places throughout Indonesia and the world, then the increase in human activity on the eve of the turn of the year will have the same effect on increasing the concentration of emission gas in the atmosphere. Yet the festival has created air pollution on a massive scale. At higher concentrations, air pollution will have an impact on the health of all living things.
Seeing the impact, let us wisely celebrate the new year with activities that are more beneficial to the development of self, others, society by doing things that do not pollute the environment, but do beneficial deeds for our beloved earth! (Wied)
