Marumi ba ang hangin sa Metro Manila? | Need to Know
ANG HANGIN NA IYONG NILALANGHAP, MALINIS AT LIGTAS BA?
Ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO), 7-million premature deaths from non-communicable diseases ang naitatala anually dahil sa air pollution.
Sa Pilipinas naman, 66-thousand premature deaths ang naitatala kada taon dahil sa exposure sa poor air quality.
Malinis ba ang hangin na nalalanghap mo? Here's what you #NeedToKnow
Ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO), 7-million premature deaths from non-communicable diseases ang naitatala anually dahil sa air pollution.
Sa Pilipinas naman, 66-thousand premature deaths ang naitatala kada taon dahil sa exposure sa poor air quality.
Malinis ba ang hangin na nalalanghap mo? Here's what you #NeedToKnow
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Air is important in our breathing.
00:04 On average, we breathe more than 20,000 times a day.
00:09 But is the air you breathe clean and safe?
00:14 Here's what you need to know.
00:18 The air we breathe is composed of different gases like nitrogen and oxygen.
00:26 But because of the different pollutants, there is air pollution that is not only harmful to the environment, but also to health.
00:35 According to the World Health Organization, or WHO,
00:39 7 million premature deaths from non-communicable diseases are recorded annually due to air pollution.
00:47 In the Philippines, 66,000 premature deaths are recorded annually due to exposure to poor air quality.
00:56 In 2021, WHO issued the new Global Air Quality Guidelines.
01:02 Under this guideline, WHO has a recommendation on the ideal level of air pollutants for a safer air quality.
01:11 Based on their data, 99% of the world's population breathe air with high levels of pollutants.
01:21 Before, we thought that we need long-term exposure to have an effect on our health.
01:29 But in reality, with the new guidelines, even if you're exposed for a short time, it can have an effect on your health.
01:38 According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or DENR,
01:43 80% of air pollution in Metro Manila is caused by emissions from vehicles.
01:50 This is one of the sources of particulate matter, such as PM10 and PM2.5, which are considered harmful air pollutants.
02:00 These are even smaller than the hair on the grain of sand.
02:05 It can also be caused by the burning of fossil fuels in power plants, industrial facilities, and construction sites.
02:14 PM10 is a small particle measuring 10 micrometers.
02:19 When inhaled, these particles can get stuck in the eyes, nose, throat, and deep into the lungs, which can cause irritation.
02:28 PM2.5 or fine particles are more dangerous because they can penetrate up to our bloodstream.
02:36 Too much exposure from this can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as stroke and lung cancer.
02:44 Nitrogen dioxide is also often linked to asthma attacks.
02:49 How can we know if the air quality in your area is safe?
02:54 DENR uses air quality monitoring stations or reference stations to measure air quality and the amount of pollutants in a place.
03:05 In Metro Manila, there are 33 air monitoring stations, but it would be better if there were more to monitor the air quality more accurately and in real time.
03:17 If DENR's data is looked at in 2022, the air quality in Metro Manila did not meet the WHO's recommendation.
03:27 Just like in Mayhan Garden in Manila, where 51 micrograms per cubic meter of PM10 was measured.
03:35 That's more than three times higher than the average annual recommended level of WHO, which is 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
03:44 In the same place, 17 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 was recorded.
03:52 It also surpassed the healthy level recommended by WHO, which is only 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
04:00 According to Evelyn Tamayo Araneta, Air Quality and Climate Change Science Lead of Clean Air Asia,
04:07 it should be understood that air quality monitoring depends on the location and time of the air quality monitoring.
04:15 It depends on the activities in the area on how polluted or clean the air is.
04:20 For example, the air quality on the side of the road that vehicles pass through is possibly more polluted than the air quality in a place surrounded by trees.
04:32 So in that context, when we are asked if the air in Metro Manila is polluted,
04:41 it depends on the specific location.
04:46 Because this is what we call hyperlocal air pollution.
04:52 It means that even in a few hundred meters, the level of air pollution can change.
05:00 In the monitoring of DENR and Clean Air Asia,
05:03 the level of air pollution increases every November to January, depending on when the traffic congestion is higher.
05:13 What we also notice is that it depends on when there are relatively calm winds or low air.
05:25 For example, when the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan meets and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat,
05:34 you get a stagnant wind.
05:37 It means that your atmosphere is not moving much, so the pollutants are also trapped there.
05:45 On the website of the DENR Environmental Management Bureau, you can see the real-time air quality monitoring in Metro Manila.
05:54 There are color and category that are related to the level of PM10 and PM2.5 present in the air.
06:02 Green if the air quality is good, yellow if it is fair.
06:06 It means that the pollutants in these places are not high.
06:11 If it is orange, it is unhealthy for sensitive groups or those with respiratory conditions such as cough.
06:18 It should be avoided to go out or to stay outside for a long time.
06:24 Color red means that it is very unhealthy.
06:27 Pedestrians should avoid heavy traffic areas.
06:31 It is also advised to stay indoors for those with heart and respiratory conditions.
06:37 If air quality monitoring reaches color purple, the air in the area is acutely unhealthy.
06:44 It can be considered an emergency if the color is brown.
06:49 It means that the number of pollutants in the air is high and everyone is being abused to stay indoors.
06:57 Like when there is a weather forecast, "Will I continue my trip? Will I go out later? Will I jog later at this time?"
07:05 Other countries have their own air quality dissemination. They have their own weather and time forecast.
07:15 As early as 1999, there was a Clean Air Act in the country.
07:20 This law mandated that there should be police and action plans for improving air quality in the country,
07:28 such as the National Air Quality Control Action Plan.
07:32 This details the role of each government agency in addressing air pollution.
07:39 Local governments also have Clean Air Action Plans, such as Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Marikina, Quezon City, and Manila.
07:48 It's always a match of national level. This is the policy.
07:53 At the same time, you have a local level because they know what is realistic and achievable.
07:59 That's why we have policies to guide citizens on what they can do to address air pollution.
08:08 Air quality in Metro Manila is still far from being in an ideal condition based on the WHO air quality guidelines.
08:16 As individuals, we can also help to make the air we breathe cleaner, just like not burning garbage.
08:26 If you have a car, make sure it is well maintained and passed the proper emission testing.
08:33 Be proactive and be one of the programs that are involved in improving air quality
08:39 because we are all affected if the air is dirty or clean.
08:45 [Music]