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Manila Bulletin devider devider Air pollution levels at an all-time low

Air pollution levels at an all-time low

Published Jan 1, 2019 04:44 pm
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz Air pollution levels in Metro Manila during New Year’s eve was at an all-time low, but it lingered longer, based on the monitoring of the Environmental Pollution Studies Laboratory (EPSL) of the University of the Philippines (UP). The airtoday.ph, a project of the EPSL in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati and Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), monitored air quality on Ayala Ave. in Makati City and LCP in Quezon City, both adjacent to designated community fireworks display sites. Revelers play with fireworks during the new year's day in Manila, January 1,2019. (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) Revelers play with fireworks during the new year's day. (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology head Dr. Mylene Cayetano said they measured both particulate matter (PM) 2.5, or particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, and PM 10, particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter. Air particulates can be inhaled or respired, depending on the size of the pollutant. Both stations recorded “very poor” air quality. The Ayala Avenue station recorded the highest PM concentration at around 1 a.m. Tuesday – 114 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3) for PM10 and 113 ug/m3 for PM2.5. These are “significantly lower” (about 24 percent and 14 percent) compared to last year’s readings of 149 ug/m3 for PM10 and 131 ug/m3 for PM2.5 for the same station. The Ayala Ave. station also “poor” air quality from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 31, and 11 p.m. and then again from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. January 1. Air quality was”very poor” from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. January 1. The LCP station recorded a PM concentration of 99 ug/m3 for PM10 and 98 ug/m3 for PM2.5. The LCP station recorded “poor” air quality 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on December 31, , and 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on January 1. “Very poor” air quality was recorded 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. December 31, and 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. January 1. PM concentrations at both stations dropped significantly at around 4 a.m. January 1, while the Makati Station still maintaining a “poor” readings that is the same as January, 2018. Cayetano said that Tropical Depression “Usman” washed away the particles emitted by fireworks and firecrackers.
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