Preliminary Study on the Impact of Phase Out of Leaded Gasoline on the Concentration of Lead in the Air of Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract
Leaded gasoline was completely phased out in Indonesia on 1 July 2006. As part of an air pollution study, airborne particulate matter (APM) samples were collected at an urban area in Bandung, Indonesia, during the periods of January – December 2006, using a Gent stacked filter sampler in two size fractions of < 2.5 m (fine) and 2.5 to 10 m (coarse). The samples were analyzed for elemental concentrations by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and black carbon was determined using an EEL Smoke Stain Reflectometer. To assess the impact of the use unleaded gasoline in the ambient air in Bandung, Indonesia, the concentration of lead has been studied. Result showed that the average concentration of lead in the fine particulate matter decreased around 40 % during the period. The average of PM mass and black carbon concentrations are also presented and discussed. The phasing out of leaded gasoline in Indonesia show encouraging result over the past few months and expected to decrease significantly over the next few years.

Keywords: Proton-Induced X-ray Emission; phase out leaded Gasoline; lead concentration; Indonesia