Two PHL cities among those with most polluted air in Asian region
(Eagle News) — Eleven cities in the Philippines were among the cities with the cleanest air in Southeast Asia, a Greenpeace report said.
The 2018 World Air Quality Report, which based its ranking from cleanest to dirtiest city on air quality data derived from “public monitoring sources” that include government monitoring networks and private individuals and organizations, listed Calamba, Laguna as the cleanest city in the Asian region, with 9.3 PM2.5 on average.
PM2.5 are fine particles that can enter the airways and cause respiratory problems.
Valenzuela was the second-cleanest city with 9.9 PM2.5; and Carmona, Cavite was the third-cleanest, with 10.9 PM2.5.
Paranaque was the fifth-cleanest city, with 12.2 PM2.5; followed by Davao with 12.6 PM2.5; and Makati with 13.7 PM2.5.
Manila was the eighth-cleanest city in Southeast Asia according to the list, with 14.3 PM2.5; followed by Mandaluyong, with 14.5 PM2.5.
Balanga was in 12th place, with 16.1 PM2.5; followed by Quezon City with 17.5 PM2.5.
Las Pinas closed out the list in fifteenth place with 17,9 PM 2.5.
Other cities that were included in the list but are not in the Philippines are Satun, Thailand in fourth place (11.3 PM2.5); Singapore in Singapore in tenth place (14.8 PM2.5); Narathiwat, Thailand in 11th place (15.2 PM2.5); and Nan, Thailand in 14th place (17.6 PM2.5).
The report listed Jakarta, Indonesia as the most polluted city in Southeast Asia, with 45.3 PM2.5, followed by Hanoi, Vietnam with 40.8 PM2.5; and Samut Sakhon, Thailand (39.8 PM2.5).
Meycauayan, Bulacan was included in the list of most polluted cities in the Asian region in seventh place (32.4 PM2.5) and Caloocan, in eleventh place (31.4 PM2.5).
The report said the sources of pollution in Southeast Asia vary between urban and rural areas–from biomass burning to vehicular emissions and transportation.
“There is strong correlation between urbanization and air pollution in this region,” the report said.
