Article by:
Marita Moaje
MANILA – Makati City registered the highest air pollution levels in Metro Manila during New Year’s Eve, with air quality deteriorating to “very unhealthy” levels due to widespread firecracker and fireworks use, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported.
Jundy del Socorro, chief of the Air Quality Management Section of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said in a radio interview Thursday that air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) spiked alarmingly during the festivities.
“Noong New Year o kasagsagan, mula 12 midnight hanggang alas 2 ng madaling araw, tumaas siya hanggang 160 percent na mas mataas sa ating guideline values (During the New Year or the peak [of the celebration] from 12 midnight to 2 a.m., it was 160 percent higher than our guideline values),” del Socorro explained.
The DENR-EMB monitors fine particulate matter like PM10 and PM2.5.
While the guideline for PM10 is 150 micrograms per cubic meter, Makati recorded levels as high as 390.
PM2.5 levels, which are more dangerous due to their smaller size, surged to 186 micrograms, far exceeding the guideline of 35.
Del Socorro attributed the pollution to the toxic heavy metal salts used in fireworks, which not only degrade air quality but pose serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
“Hindi lang siya madumi, toxic din ho yung hangin na yan dahil yung nagbibigay ng kulay sa mga firecrackers ay may toxic substances (The air is not just polluted but also toxic because the colors in fireworks contain harmful substances),” he said.
Aside from human health, pollution also has adverse effects on the environment, with fine particles settling on soil and water, potentially harming ecosystems and wildlife.
Pollution effects linger depending on the weather. Cooler temperatures trap pollutants closer to the ground, where rain can wash them away. Air quality typically normalizes within two to three hours after peak pollution.
Swiss air quality research firm IQAir, however, reported that Manila reached the highest "unhealthy" level of air quality on Wednesday following the New Year's celebration.(PNA)
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