Haze in Metro Manila due to local pollutants, not Taal vog: Phivolcs

Ariel Rojas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA -- The haze over Metro Manila on Monday is likely caused by local pollutants and not by the Taal volcanic smog or vog, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs )Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol told ABS-CBN News.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Obscured skyline and poor air quality are being experienced in Metro Manila and nearby areas.</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As of 10 a.m. Monday, the air quality monitoring of the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups in stations in Caloocan, Parañaque, and Pateros, while Makati logged very unhealthy air quality level.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dozens of local government units surrounding Taal Volcano and even parts of Cavite, Laguna, and Metro Manila suspended face-to-face classes due to vog.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/19/over-40-lgus-suspend-face-to-face-classes-due-to-taal-vog-1403">Over 40 LGUs suspend face-to-face classes due to Taal smog</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In a bulletin on Monday, Phivolcs said Taal spewed 3,355 tons per day of sulfur dioxide on August 15. Bacolcol said this &quot;isn&#x27;t much.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">However, due to the calm winds around the volcano, the gasses were not dispersed, leading to the formation of vog around the area.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Vog forms when sulfur dioxide interacts with moisture, surface oxygen, other volcanic gasses and particles, and sunlight.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In a health advisory issued on Monday, the Department of Health said vog could irritate the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract, which could lead to more serious conditions, depending on the amount or the duration of the exposure.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It also reminded the public to take the following precautions. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">1. Avoid going outdoors to limit exposure to vog.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">2. Shut doors and windows to prevent the entry of vog at home. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">3. Cover nose and mouth and wear N95 mask, if available.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">4. Drink lots of water.</span></div>

<p>The haze over Metro Manila on Monday is likely caused by local pollutants and not by the Taal volcanic smog or vog, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs )Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol told ABS-CBN News.</p>

The haze over Metro Manila on Monday is likely caused by local pollutants and not by the Taal volcanic smog or vog, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs )Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol told ABS-CBN News.

Haze in Metro Manila due to local pollutants, not Taal vog: Phivolcs | ABS-CBN

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Haze in Metro Manila due to local pollutants, not Taal vog: Phivolcs

Haze in Metro Manila due to local pollutants, not Taal vog: Phivolcs

Ariel Rojas,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 19, 2024 02:56 PM PHT

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