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Lead exposure in Jakarta children's playground raise concern

Tempo - October 28, 2019

Taufiq Siddiq, Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – An environment watchdog Nexus3 Foundation revealed many children's equipment in 32 playgrounds across Jakarta contained a high concentrate of lead. The contamination was found on 82 out of 119 painted equipment examined, such as swings, slides, and seesaw.

"The study was conducted in Jakarta as a representation of other cities," the foundation's Toxic Program Officer Sonia Buftheim told Tempo, Friday, October 25.

Lead is a toxic metal that can disrupt the function of organs and inhibit the child's development.

The foundation noted that the recommended limit considered safe from lead was 90 ppm. However, during the research in October 2019, they discovered lead exposure reaching 4,170 ppm in a park at West Jakarta, precisely on yellow-painted slides and swings.

In Central Jakarta, the highest level of lead concentration amounted to 4,090 ppm was found at a park of an apartment, while in East Jakarta, the concentration reached 4,100 ppm on painted equipment at a kindergarten park.

In North Jakarta, the highest lead exposure reached 4,090 ppm at a kindergarten park as well, while in South Jakarta, the highest concentration was recorded at 4,070 at public playgrounds.

One of the highest lead contamination was detected in Menteng Park (Taman Menteng) in Central Jakarta, reaching 4,065 ppm.

Some residents of Menteng claimed that they did not know about the danger of paint in children's play equipment in the park. "I don't know if it could be dangerous," said a resident Saifulah who was bringing his child to play in Menteng Park, Saturday, October 26.

Other residents named Srihandayani seconded Saifulah's statement. She thought the public playground was a safe place for kids. Thus, they urged the Jakarta administration to repaint children's play areas with safer and environmentally-friendly paint.

Nexus3 Foundation also mapped locations of parks they studied. The red status means the lead concentration was above 90 ppm. The following is the lead exposure in the capital's parks and their status.

West Jakarta

  • RPTRA (Child-Friendly Integrated Public Spaces) Meruya Selatan (red)
  • RPTRA Jeruk Manis (red)
  • RPTRA Manuver (green)
  • Park on Jalan Kav. DKI, near RPTRA Menara (green)
  • RPTRA Nusa Indah Komplek BPPT (green)
  • Park at Komplek Hutan Srengseng (green)
  • RPTRA Jatipulo Akur (green)

North Jakarta

  • Park on Jalan Kepanduan II (red)
  • RPTRA Penjaringan (green)
  • RPTRA Gading Tarian (green)
  • Park on Jalan Mawar Jingga (red)
  • RPTRA Griya Pratama (red)

Central Jakarta

  • Park on Jalan Buyan (green)
  • RPTRA Taman Guntur (red)
  • RPTRA Taman Menteng (red)
  • RPTRA Taman Ranin (green)
  • RPTRA Gondangdia (green)
  • RPTRA Amir Hamzah (green)
  • Park at Menteng Square (red)

South Jakarta

  • Park on Jalan Poncol Lestari (red)
  • Park at Pondok Pesantren Miftahul Ulum (red)
  • Taman Spathodea (green)
  • Park near SDN Kebagusan (green)
  • Taman Sepat (green)
  • RPTRA Baung (green)
  • RPTRA Asoka (green)
  • Park near Masjid Jami Al Hidayah (green)
  • RPTRA Malinjo (green)
  • Park at Kalibata junction(green)

East Jakarta

  • Park on Jalan Raya Pulo Gebang (red)
  • RPTRA Pulo Gebang Permai (green)
  • Park on Jalan Pulo Jawa (red)

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1265246/lead-exposure-in-jakarta-childrens-playground-raise-concern