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The air quality in Quezon City, Las Piñas, and Parañaque has been classified as “acutely unhealthy,” while that of 10 areas has been tagged “very unhealthy” on Tuesday night, as the government warned of haze brought to the country by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat from the fires in Indonesia.
According to the air quality monitoring report for PM 2.5 pollution by the Environmental Management Bureau in the National Capital Region, Parañaque (Don Bosco) recorded a 229 air quality index (AQI); Las Piñas, 215; and Quezon City (Ateneo), 202.
Air quality in areas with AQI ranging from 201 to 300 is considered “acutely unhealthy.” People in this area are advised to limit outdoor exertion, keep vulnerable individuals with heart or respiratory conditions indoors, postpone non-essential trips, and potentially restrict vehicular and industrial activity.
The following areas are classified as “very unhealthy” with their respective AQI:
- Makati (186)
- Malabon (192)
- Mandaluyong (162)
- Manila (185)
- Marikina [Parang] (173)
- Muntinlupa [Filinvest] (173)
- Quezon City [Commonwealth] (157)
- San Juan City (173)
- Taguig [TUP] (189)
- Valenzuela (186)
In areas flagged with “very unhealthy” air, pedestrians are advised to avoid heavy traffic zones, while people with heart or respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are advised to stay indoors, rest, postpone unnecessary trips, and voluntarily restrict vehicle use.
The areas classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” are:
- Navotas (150)
- Pateros (119)
People with respiratory disease, such as asthma, in these areas should limit outdoor exertion.
The AQI reported by EMB, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), includes PM2.5 pollution and PM10 pollution.
PM10 is particulate matter that is about 10 micrometers in size and caused by a mix of natural and human-made (anthropogenic) sources, primarily involving dust, smoke, and industrial combustion.
The US Environmental Protection Agency said PM2.5 is a fine inhalable particle with diameters of about 2.5 micrometers or smaller. It is 30 times smaller than the average human hair, which is about 70 micrometers in diameter.
PM2.5 is either directly emitted from sources like roads, fields, and smokestacks, or formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving pollutants from vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities.
The US EPA said particles less than 10 micrometers can get deep into lungs and some even into the bloodstream. However, it is smaller particles like PM2.5 that pose the greatest health risk.
Local government units earlier advised residents to wear face masks and to lessen or avoid outdoor activities.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) on Tuesday explained that the haze currently affecting parts of the country is the smoke from the Kalimantan, Indonesia forest fires being carried over by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
DENR-EMB also said that the haze may last for a few days. —with Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP/NB, GMA News
