Indonesia Unites 13 East Asian Countries to Face Transboundary Air Pollution

PM2.5 and transboundary pollution threaten health

Japan's Deputy Parliamentary Minister for the Environment, Tomonoh Rio, reminded that air pollution can no longer be handled by each country alone. The movement of pollutants crosses regional boundaries and has a direct impact on the health of people in the region.

“The environmental challenges facing Southeast Asia today require urgent action. Air pollution caused by PM2.5 and other pollutants is a serious problem,” Tomonoh said.

He emphasized that cross-border air pollution can affect public health in various countries. Therefore, monitoring cooperation and data exchange need to continue to be strengthened.

PM2.5 is a very small air pollutant particle that can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract. Its presence is an important indicator in assessing the risk of air pollution on health.

Director General of the Network Center for EANET, Toshimasa Ohara, said that East Asia is facing pressure due to high air pollution and atmospheric deposition. One issue of concern is reactive nitrogen which can have an impact on human health and the ecosystem.

According to Toshimasa, EANET's main strength for more than 25 years has been the consistency of long-term observations. This data is needed to read changes in air quality as well as support the preparation of environmental policies in the region.

EANET is currently implementing a medium-term plan that focuses on controlling ozone and PM2.5, managing nitrogen flows, as well as analyzing the influence of meteorological conditions on the spread of pollutants.