Tips to reduce carbon footprint to help improve air quality
Ferlyn Curraton, who suffers from asthma, struggles to keep her asthma attacks at bay during her commute to work every day. (PIA7/MYP)
“Bisan maglakaw ra ko or magbike, ako nabantayan nga abog jud. (Even when I walk along the streets or ride a bike, I’ve noticed that it’s very dusty).”
This is the sentiment of Ferlyn Curaraton, 28, single, of Lahug, Cebu City who suffers from allergic asthma. She struggles to fend off an asthma attack when she commutes to work at Cebu I.T. Park every day as she is constantly exposed to smoke, tobacco, dust, and other airborne pollutants.
“Every day ko ma-expose sa abog or fumes kay dili jud malikayan nga atakihon ko sa hubak. (I’m exposed to dust or fumes every day, so it’s inevitable that I experience asthma attacks,” she added.
Curaraton is among the 12 percent of the 90 million Filipinos who suffer from asthma, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Air pollution
According to the WHO, 99 percent of the population worldwide breathes polluted air globally, killing 7 million people every year.
Aside from asthma, exposure to air pollution greatly affects the population and puts everyone at risk of respiratory infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and worsen those who are already ill.
Air pollution, also known as the invisible killer, has also been linked to the premature death of women and children, especially those who live in lower middle income countries.
Premature deaths are associated with household air pollution, especially in countries where open fires or inefficient stove fuels are being used.
Oncologist Dr. Arthur Gregory Lui of the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC), in a Kapihan sa PIA held in Davao, said that in a recent study, air pollution causes lung cancer.
He said that air pollution triggers mutated lung cancer called the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR).
Lung cancer remains to be the most common form of cancer in the Philippines and is still the common cause of cancer death in the country as recorded by the Department of Health (DOH).
Air Quality Index
Despite the growing concern of air pollution in Cebu, the air quality in Cebu has been rated at 23, which falls within the range of “good category,” according to Maricita S. Cabasa, senior communications development officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 7.
DENR, through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), has air quality monitoring equipment installed in five different areas in Cebu.
The Air Quality Monitoring of DENR-7 as of October 10, 2023 shows Cebu City’s air quality falls under Good Category. (Image from DENR-7 website)
The parameters being monitored are Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5).
TSP refers to the totality of small solid matter released, documented and/or otherwise observed in the atmosphere and are considered to be a primary contributor to air pollution, smog formation and environmental contamination.
PM 10 are solid or liquid particles, which are 10 micrometers or less, that are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs such as soot, pollen, smoke, dust, liquid droplets, and other chemicals.
PM2.5 is similar to PM 10 but comes in very fine, inhalable particles of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, and pose the greatest risk for health problems since it can go deep into the lungs and may even get into the bloodstream.
These different particulate matters are being monitored by EMB-7 through the air monitoring stations, which were classified according to the PM it monitors.
The air monitoring stations are the CAAQMS-PMS in Talisay City (automatic), TSP-IT Park in Cebu IT Park (manual), TSP-Naga in Naga City, Cebu (manual), PM 10-Cordova located in Cordova Municipal Hall, Cordova Cebu (manual), and PM10-Cebu City Hall(manual) in Plaza Sugbo, Cebu City.
The sampling frequency of the 24-hr manual sampling is obtained once every six days to get representative data including weekends.
One of the air monitoring stations in Cebu is the CAAQMS-PMS located in Talisay City Hall, Talisay City, which monitors the PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants in the air. (Photo from DENR-7 website)
Lessening air pollutants
Airborne pollutants from vehicle emission have been the leading cause of air pollution in the Philippines.
This prompted former President Fidel V. Ramos to declare November of each year as Clean Air Month in 1997 to curb the exhaust pollutants in the country.
For this year, DENR’s theme is “Circular Actions for Climate Hope.”
Alongside the Clean Air Month observance is the National Environmental Awareness Month and Climate Change Consciousness Week.
DENR, together with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology, ensures that there is mitigation done to prevent air pollution through the emission testing centers.
The Land Transportation Office and the Department of Transportation and Communications also conduct Motor Vehicle Inspection System to ensure the road-worthiness of registered vehicles.
DENR and DOH have shared the following tips to help reduce carbon footprints and improve air quality.
For vehicle owners/motorist:
- Maintain your vehicle by changing oil regularly (every 5,000 kilometers).
- Keep the engine well-tuned following the owner’s manual.
- Keep tires properly inflated.
- Plan trips and observe proper driving habits.
- Remove unnecessary things from the trunk. Don’t overload and travel only at speed required by traffic regulations and road conditions.
For commuters:
- Live a sustainable life. Walk, ride a bike or organize a carpool.
- Try talking to the jeep/bus/tricycle driver about the high health risks of poor vehicle maintenance and improper driving practices.
For office workers:
- Reduce use of air conditioning and ensure that rooms are sealed.
- Make sure that lights are energy-efficient.
- Use company vehicles wisely and make sure that they are well-maintained.
- Use natural lighting by opening window curtains during the day
At home:
- Use low watt bulbs or energy-saving lights.
- Limit the use of air conditioning units and keep the temperature a few degrees higher.
- Don’t burn garbage.
- Avoid using aerosols.
- Properly dispose of refrigerant, refrigeration equipment, and used coolant.
- Practice proper garbage segregation.
- Plant bougainvilleas. This plant helps in mitigating air pollution.
For everyone:
- Talk to people on what they can do about air pollution.
- Report smoke-belchers to the Land Transportation Office and/or the appropriate local government units.
- Walk or ride your bike to places.
- Work with residential associations to stop burning of garbage.
- Plant trees.
- Help spread the word about the ban on smoking in public places. (MYP/PIA7)
