Manila: Air Quality Index reports indicate 'good' PM10 and PM2.5 levels across all monitoring stations in Metro Manila on Friday, while several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao experienced 'acutely unhealthy' PM2.5 levels due to haze affecting parts of the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) attributed the haze to smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, which may have reached the Philippines due to prevailing winds. The latest air quality readings as of 8 a.m. show Talisay City, Zamboanga City, Iligan City, Sta. Cruz, Misamis Oriental, and Koronadal City recorded 'acutely unhealthy' PM2.5 levels.
Additionally, Bacolod City and La Castellana in the Negros Island Region reported 'very unhealthy' air quality. Meanwhile, Iloilo City, La Carlota City, Toledo City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Butuan City recorded PM2.5 levels categorized as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups.'
PM10 particles, sized 10 micrometers or smaller, can enter the nose, throat, and lungs, and are typically composed of dust, pollen, and ash. PM2.5 particles are even smaller, measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, capable of traveling deep into the lungs, sometimes entering the bloodstream, and potentially triggering asthma, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Sources of PM2.5 include smoke, vehicle pollution, and volcanic emissions.
The DENR's provisional national ambient air quality guideline values for PM2.5 outline six levels of air quality index (AQI): 'good,' 'fair,' 'unhealthy for sensitive groups,' 'very unhealthy,' 'acutely unhealthy,' and 'emergency.' Each level carries specific health advisories, ranging from minor issues for sensitive individuals to serious health alerts advising the general public to remain indoors and wear protective masks.
The agency emphasized that it is actively monitoring air quality levels through its network of air quality monitoring stations to evaluate the extent and potential impacts of the haze.
