Publication

Correlation of publication frequency of newspaper articles with environment and public health issues in fire-prone peatland regions of Riau in Sumatra, Indonesia

Forest fires in peatlands emit pollutants to the atmosphere, affecting public health. Though air quality data and epidemiology information are helpful in the management of the environment and public health, they are not always available. We aimed to reveal the utility of newspaper articles for estimating the public health concerns posed by air pollution. Using the database of a local newspaper, Riau Pos, in Riau Province of Sumatra, Indonesia, we have studied spatiotemporal correlations between publication frequency of newspaper articles mentioning search terms relevant to health issues and Fire Radiation Power (FRP) of peatland fires. FRP from one of the NASA satellite databases has been used as an index of air pollution caused by peatland fires. Visibility data for airport operation were also used as an index of particulate matter concentrations. The study regions are primarily the fire-prone Riau Province and nearby areas in the central area of Sumatra, Indonesia, from 2009 to 2018. Newspaper articles related to public health are found to be associated with FRP and visibility, or regional air pollution.
  • Authors: Ohashi, M., Kameda, A., Kozan, O., Kawasaki, M., Iriana, W., Tonokura, K., Naito, D., Ueda, K.
  • Author Affiliation: Center for International Forestry Research, Kagoshima University, National Museum of Ethnology Japan, Kyoto University, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature Japan, University of Tokyo
  • Subjects: mass media, forest fires, health, peatlands, air pollution, access to information
  • Publication type: Journal Article, ISI
  • Source: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 8: 307
  • Year: 2021
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00994-5
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PARTNERS

Founding member states
Republic of Indonesia Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of Peru
Coordinating partners
Ministry of Environment and Forestry Republic of Indonesia CIFOR UN Environment FAO