A fire destroyed a pesticide storage warehouse in Taman Tekno, Block K3, Number 37, Setu District, South Tangerang City, on Monday, 9 February. Authorities say the incident has affected the surrounding environment, including a nearby waterway connected to the Cisadane River.
Residents reported changes in the river’s condition shortly after the blaze. The water reportedly turned white and emitted a strong odour. Dead fish were seen floating on the surface.
The South Tangerang Environmental Agency (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup/DLH) stated that the contamination is suspected to have originated from the burned warehouse.
The Head of the Environmental Pollution Control and Monitoring Section (P3L) of the South Tangerang DLH, Hadiman, said field investigations identified chemical liquid as the source of the pollution.
“Yes, it was from the chemical liquids at the location of the pesticide warehouse fire,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
According to Hadiman, the chemicals were stored inside the warehouse that caught fire. During firefighting efforts, liquids from the site were carried by runoff into a nearby creek connected to the river.
“As a result, the chemical liquid was carried by the current and flowed into the creek, where it was white with a pungent odour. So there was no production at the location of the fire,” he said.
He confirmed that no manufacturing activity was taking place at the warehouse at the time of the incident.
Authorities Issue Public Warning
The Tangerang City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has urged residents to avoid direct contact with water from the Cisadane River until further notice.
The Head of the Tangerang City BPBD, Mahdiar, called on the public to remain vigilant while authorities assess pollution levels.
“The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) asks the public to temporarily avoid direct contact with the Cisadane River water. Residents are also asked to continue monitoring official information provided by the BPBD, PDAM, and the Environmental Agency regarding developments in environmental conditions,” Mahdiar said, as reported by Republika.
Authorities also advised residents to monitor the condition of well water in their respective areas. They warned residents to be alert to any changes in colour, odour, or taste.
In addition, the public has been advised not to consume fish taken from the Cisadane River that may have been exposed to contamination.
Officials have not yet released laboratory test results on the water samples. Monitoring and assessment are ongoing.
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Health Risks Linked to Pesticide Exposure
Environmental experts have long warned about the risks associated with pesticide exposure. Pesticides can be bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in body tissues over time.
According to research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, exposure to certain pesticide active ingredients, including organophosphates and organochlorines, has been shown to cause DNA damage, known as genotoxicity.
Long-term cellular damage may increase the risk of malignant tumour growth, particularly in the digestive system and liver.
