Hold your breath: Jakarta's air was healthy for only one week last year

Jakarta (AFP) - from Yahoo

Don't breathe too deeply in Jakarta.
Air quality in the chaotic capital was in the healthy range for only seven days last year, William Frej, Indonesian mission director for the US Agency for International Development, said.

Last year was even worse than 2002 when the air was healthy for 22 days, he said at an embassy ceremony marking Earth Day.

"As we all know from travelling the streets of Jakarta each day, air pollution is a very, very serious problem," he said.

Skies over the capital of more than eight million are often hazy and many buses belch smoky black exhaust.

Frej said air pollution affects the health of more than 70 percent of the urban population, while respiratory inflammations account for almost 13 percent of deaths in Jakarta.

Indonesia has taken some anti-pollution steps. It has phased out leaded fuel over the past three years in Jakarta and other areas accounting for 40 percent of the national gasoline market.