Jurnal Biomedika dan Kesehatan
Vol 8 No 3 (2025)

AIR POLLUTION AND THE RISK OF ACUTE EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT INFECTIONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN WEST JAKARTA

Tjhin, Purnamawati (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background: Air pollution, particularly in urban areas like West Jakarta, is a major public health concern. Long-term exposure to pollutants such as PM2.5 can lead to respiratory problems, including acute otolaryngologic infections. Outdoor workers, such as those involved in urban infrastructure maintenance, are more vulnerable to these conditions. This study aimed to assess the relationship between air pollution levels, mucociliary clearance function, and the prevalence of acute otolaryngologic infections among outdoor workers in West Jakarta. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 Public Infrastructure and Facility Maintenance (PPSU) workers from Cengkareng, Rawa Buaya, and Cengkareng Timur sub-districts. Air quality was measured using data from nearby monitoring stations, assessing PM2.5 levels and the Air Quality Index (AQI). Health assessments included mucociliary clearance testing, Eustachian tube patency evaluation, and the prevalence of acute otolaryngologic infections. Results: The average PM2.5 level was 57.58 μg/m³ (high risk for respiratory issues), and the AQI was 144.71 µg/m³ (unhealthy). Mucociliary clearance (Sakarin test) averaged 427.29 seconds, with a mean nasal cavity length of 63.76 mm. The prevalence of subjective acute rhinosinusitis was 24.2%, rhinopharyngitis 67.5%, and Eustachian tube dysfunction 71.7%. However, no significant correlation was found between air pollution exposure, mucociliary function, and acute otolaryngologic infections (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Despite high exposure to air pollution, no significant relationship was found between air pollution, mucociliary clearance, and acute otolaryngologic infections in PPSU workers. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs are needed. Keywords: Air pollution; acute otolaryngologic infections; mucociliary clearance, outdoor workers; PM2.5

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jbk

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health

Description

Jurnal Biomedika dan Kesehatan is an official publication of Faculty of Medicine Trisakti University. Jurnal Biomedika dan Kesehatan is a third-monthly medical journal that publishes new research findings on a wide variety of topics of importance to biomedical science and clinical practice. Jurnal ...