JAKARTA – An Indonesian city tops the list of the Top 10 most polluted cities in Southeast Asia, according to IQAir quality report last year, reported Vietnam News Agency.
South Tangerang in Banten province, Indonesia – with a population of 1.8 million – recorded an average PM2.5 level of 74.9 throughout last year, much higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended level of 10.
It is followed by Pai in Thailand, which recorded a 53 PM2.5 average, Bekasi in Indonesia (48.1), and three other Thai cities.
Jakarta is listed as the seventh most polluted city, with a 39.6 PM2.5 average score.
The IQAir report states that the region faces challenges in air pollution caused by population explosion and robust economic growth.
The PM2.5 emissions in Southeast Asian countries are mainly caused by construction and industrial activities, and transportation, it added. – Bernama, March 19, 2021
