Air quality in enclosed spaces is the latest focus of the city's ongoing campaign to crack down on air pollution.

The first step in plan announced Tuesday will be to measure pollutant levels in enclosed parking lots, which are mainly located in basements.

"We will issue regulations to set a minimum standard for indoor air pollution levels after conducting tests on 10 parking lots at shopping malls next month," City Environmental Management Board (BPLHD) head Budirama Natakusumah said.

Parking lots at Plaza Senayan, Mal Blok M, Cibubur Square, Pondok Indah Mal 2, Mal Pluit, Mal Kelapa Gading, Mangga Dua, Arion Plaza, Citra Land and Mal Taman Anggrek will be tested.

Currently there are no laws regulating pollution levels in parking lots.

Yosiono Anwar Supalal, head of the air control division at the BPLHD, said his office would measure levels of carbon monoxide, sulfur, nitrogen oxide and biological matter.

"We will also monitor humidity and temperature levels and examine air circulation in enclosed parking lots," he said.

Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are two pollutants produced by cars. The colorless and odorless carbon monoxide can cause dizziness, headaches, disorientation and death.

The administration said the transportation sector was responsible for up to 70 percent of Jakarta's air pollution.

There were at least 2.5 million private cars, 3.8 million motorcycles and at least 255,000 public transportation vehicles on the city's streets every day in 2004.

Budirama said indoor air pollution control was crucial to ensuring the parking officers and visitors were safe.

Jakarta, which last year enacted Indonesia's first air pollution control bylaw, will be the first city in the country to monitor indoor air pollution.

The 2005 Bylaw on Air Pollution Control bans smoking in certain places, requires emissions testing for private cars and public transportation to use compressed natural gas and prohibits the burning of garbage in open areas.

Budirama said the air pollution campaign in shopping centers would be held at the same time as free emissions tests were being offered across the city.

Jakarta's high levels of air pollution and lack of green space and have resulted in malls being the most popular location for socializing and recreation.

The week-long emission test program was originally scheduled for the end of this month, but has been delayed until mid September due to technical reasons.

"We wanted all stakeholders, including related city agencies and activists, to be able to take part in the campaign," Budirama said

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060830.C01