Haze still in cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Environment officials have advised Metro

Cebu residents to stay indoors or wear protective masks if venturing
outside during peak hours, as haze from forest fires in Indonesia
continued to affect the area.

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“As a safety precaution, the general public is advised to take
precautionary measures during peak hours,” the advisory from the
Environmental Management Bureau Region 7 (EMB-7) under the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, sent to media on
Friday afternoon, September 20 read.

If one has to go outside, EMB-7 advised residents to use protective

masks to guard against inhaling fine pollutants. Peak hours – or times
when are when air pollution is at unhealthy levels – are between 5 am
to 10 am, and between 4 pm to 9 pm.

The advisory was based on the latest results for particulate matter
from the EMB's Talisay City station in Metro Cebu, which yielded
results barely within healthy levels at 43.71 micrograms per normal
cubic meter. The maximum limit is 50.

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While the test found that the daily average air quality remained within
safe levels, the threshold of 50 micrograms per normal cubic meter
were breached during these peak hours, which means the air was
already unsafe for humans to breathe.

Particulate matter, which is invisible to the human eye, stays longer in

the air than heavier particles, increasing the chances of inhalation and
getting lodged deep into the lungs or circulatory system.

Dr Daisy Villa, Cebu City Health Officer, echoed the EMB’s advice to
wear at least N95-rated mask, specifically designed to protect against
smoke inhalation and particulate matter.
"We encourage especially kids and those with ailments to use masks,"
she told reporters on Friday.

Cindylyn Pepito Ochea, EMB-Central Visayas' ambient air and water

quality chief, said the EMB could not yet determine how much longer
the haze would linger in the region.

“On top of local sources of air pollution, we cannot determine how long
this [the heavy pollution] will last, because of factors beyond our
control,” Ochea said.