Jakarta's air quality on Wednesday evening was moderate, but PM2.5 concentration remained 2.1 times the WHO standard.

Jakarta's air quality on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM WIB was recorded as unhealthy, with PM2.5 concentrations 2.1 times the WHO's safe standard. This concentration is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) page, Jakarta's average air quality index was 69, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 31.1 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter) at 7:00 PM WIB.

The WHO's standard for good air quality has a 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration range of 0 to 15 µg/m³.

Meanwhile, the development of Jakarta's air quality over the past 8 hours shows that the air was generally unhealthy for sensitive groups from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM WIB.

The lowest PM2.5 concentration in Jakarta's air was 30.8 µg/m³ at 3:00 PM WIB, while the highest PM2.5 concentration was at 11:00 AM WIB with a value of 31.7 µg/m³.

Quoting the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) website, PM2.5 are small airborne particles measuring 2.5 microns or about 3% of the diameter of a human hair.

Sources of PM2.5 include emissions from the combustion of gasoline, oil, wood, and other fuels. Long-term effects of PM2.5 exposure on the human body include premature death, chronic heart and lung disease, and reduced lung function in children.

For information, BMKG divides PM2.5 air pollution levels into several categories:

* Good: 0 - 15.5 µg/m³
* Moderate: 15.6 - 55.4 µg/m³
* Unhealthy: 55.5 - 150.4 µg/m³
* Very Unhealthy: 150.5 - 250.4 µg/m³
* Hazardous: >250.5 µg/m³