RESEARCH PROPOSAL No.

Research Proposal Exercise 1.1

1. What research problem are you currently interested in?
The research problem I am currently interested in is about the Air Pollution in Mandaluyong City. The
title of the study could be “Air Quality Assessment using leaves of Acacia Tree (Acacia confusa) as
Bioindicator of biochemical parameters (dust particles, total chlorophyll content, stomata present,
ascorbic acid level, and leaf pH) in Mandaluyong City, Philippines (2023)”.
Select a specific topic or local environmental problem. Consider the following criteria in selecting a
topic/research problem:
 It should be able to produce a research output that is beneficial to the society. For
example, by determining the level of a carcinogenic heavy metal in edible fish species in
a polluted lake, stakeholders particularly municipal fishers and fish consumers will be
informed about the health risk associated with consumption of fish.
 Should be within your municipality or city or province.
 May be a transboundary problem (between two or more barangays or
municipality/city).
 May be a problem unique to a barangay or municipality/city.

2. Why do you think it is important that this problem be addressed? Explain using 450 to 500 words.
Based on the latest data from IQAir test 2022 World Air Quality Report, Mandaluyong
City has the Worst Air Quality in the Philippines, having PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5) reading of
19.4 µg/m3, too high compared to the recommended PM2.5 reading of 5 µg/m3 from World health
Organization. Particulate matters are fine and tiny particles or droplets in the air, PM2.5 are fine
particles that have 2.5 microns or lesser diameter. These small particles indicates pollution in the air
and the higher its concentration in the atmosphere, the more polluted and harmful the air is.
Being referred as the “Tiger City of the Philippines” and “Shopping Mall Capital of the
Philippines”, Mandaluyong City is highly susceptible to pollution. Urbanization within the area is very
high given that it is being occupied by multiple residential areas and huge infrastructures such as
huge malls, hotels, commercial centers, and many more. Because of this, free spaces and green
spaces that could balance the emission of air pollution were lacking. There is also a higher rate of
anthropogenic activities that worsens the quality of air even more such as higher rate of
transportation vehicles (due to high population of residents and also high number of people that
enters and exists the city for their job), factories that emits gases that contaminates the air, and
highly urbanized communities that even adds up to air pollution due to their daily activities.
With these problems, environment and health were at risks that is why monitoring of
current state of the air is important. By addressing this problem, possible solutions and
measurements could arise which could help in the betterment of the quality of air in the City and also
lessen the health risk and mortality interconnected with air pollution among people living within the
area.

3. How do you analyze/study the research problem? Provide a diagram or flow chart and briefly
explain.
- Search for resources/relating studies
- Assigning points/places to get sample leaves from
- Collection of fresh leaves sample during morning (8-11am)
- Experiment procedures:
- Total chlorophyll
- Leaf extract pH
- Stomata count
- Ascorbic Acid
-Calculations and finalizing of data
-Discussion and Conclusion

The study will be analyzed by first studying about the background of the study wherein related studies
and will be furthered study. After searching for related information, assigning points or specific places
for leaf samples should be made which should be fairly picked based on fair division of the Municipality.
After finalizing the points where samples will be taken, the collection of samples may then proceed. The
collection should be during morning because morning is the most favorable time for leaves, thus will not
affect the results (will only shown long-termed effect of pollution to leaves. For ‘Total Chlorophyl’, 5g of
sample will be needed and 10mL of 80% acetone. Centrifuge and spectrometer will then be used and
calculations will be done afterwards. For the leaf’s pH, 5g of leaf sample will be crushed, 50mL of
distilled water will be added, will be filtered, and the pH of leave’s juice will then be collected. For
stomata counting (both open and closed), 1 leaf per sample is only needed and its apex & middle & base
will be cut in a square shape and this will be observed under the microscope. Counting of open and
closed stomata will be done afterwards. Lastly, for Ascorbic Acid, 5g is also needed which will be mixed
with a solution composed of 5g oxalic acid & 7.5g of EDTA in 100mL distilled water. Absorbance of the
sample will then be obtain and few drops of ascorbic acid were added to the mixture and will get the
absorbance value again. Calculations will then be done. After those, finalization of data including graphs
will be made. Discussion and conclusions should be drawn afterwards.

4. What research output/s would you expect? Enumerate and explain how society will benefit from it.
- Awareness about the current status of air / Air quality within the City
- Ranking of most polluted area in the City to associate the possible causes or sources of pollution
- For health awareness (for people with health issues connected with air) how their surrounding may
affect them
- Additional information for LGU so that possible measures and actions may be done/enacted.

5. What challenges do you expect if ever you decide to work on that research problem, in terms of:
The challenges that the researcher may face in conducting this research/study e:
- the large scope of the area because Mandaluyong City has a total of 1,124.97 hectares. Even if there
are just specific points where samples will be taken, the are of the city is still huge which will be a
challenge to the researcher
- Even though Acacia tree is abundant in the area, it is still not assured that every area has an acacia
tree, making the scopes to be adjusted based on the tree’s availability.
- Some materials and substances needed for some tests such as Ascorbic Acid testing could be costly.
Apparatus needed may also not be available such as microscope, centrifuge and spectrometer.
- There are a lot of parameters which could be challenging for the researcher to interpret.
Research Proposal Exercise 1.2
1. Research title
“Air Quality Assessment using leaves of Acacia Tree (Acacia confusa) as Bioindicator of biochemical
parameters (total chlorophyll content, stomata present, ascorbic acid level, and leaf pH) in Mandaluyong
City, Philippines (2023)”

2. A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to
measure in some way. Variables are classified as independent, dependent and control.

Independent variable Dependent variable Control

 the variable that is
stable and unaffected
by the other variables
you are trying to
measure.
 refers to the condition
of an experiment that
is systematically
manipulated by the
investigator.
 The presumed cause.
 the variable that  Any variable that is
depends on other held constant in a
factors that are research study.
measured.
 Expected to change as
a result of an
experimental
manipulation of the
independent variable.
 The presumed effect.

Question 1: Identify the independent and dependent variables in each of the following. Show in a
diagram the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
Research topic Independent Dependent
variable variable
1. Diversity of mangroves in Bolinao Pangasinan and in Different sampling The diversity of
Balabac, Palawan. areas which are mangroves in
Bolinao different areas
Pangasinan and (which could be
Balabac affected by
Pangasinan different factors
within different
areas)
2. Growth of rice after treatment with natural and synthetic Usage of natural Growth of rice
hormone in a ricefield in Laguna. and synthetic after treatment
hormone
3. Organic matter content of sediment in a natural Different sampling Organic matter
mangrove forest and regenerated mangrove forest in Bohol areas which are content of
island. natural mangrove sediments
and mangrove
forest in Bohol
Island
4. Capacity to adapt to flood of a riverside community. Flood Adaptation
capacity of
 riverside
community

Question 2. Identify the independent and variable research variables in your research problem. Show
in a diagram.

STUDY TITLE: “Air Quality Assessment using leaves of Acacia Tree (Acacia confusa) as
Bioindicator of biochemical parameters (dust particles, total chlorophyll content, stomata
present, ascorbic acid level, and leaf pH) in Mandaluyong City, Philippines (2023)”

The independent variable in research is the _______ and the dependent variable is _________.
Independent= air pollution/air quality in Mandaluyong City
Dependent= result of bioindicator parameters in leaves
total chlorophyll content, stomata present, ascorbic acid level, and leaf pH

REFERENCES:
Alla, A. A. (n.d.). Green Leaves as Indicator for Air Pollution. Innis. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from
https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/38/061/38061419.pdf

Fuller R, Landrigan PJ, Balakrishnan K. Pollution and health: A progress update. The Lancet Planetary
Health. 2022: 6, (6), E535-E547. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0

(n.d.). Interactive global map of 2022 PM2.5 concentrations by city. IQAir. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from
https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality-report
Molnár, V. É., Tozler, D., Szabo, S., Thotmeresz, B., & Simon, E. (2020, December 9). Use of Leaves as
Bioindicator to Assess Air Pollution Based on Composite Proxy Measure (APTI), Dust Amount and
Elemental Concentration of Metals. National Library for Medicine. Retrieved May 9, 2023, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7764743/

Sadia, H. E., Jeba, F., Uddin, Z., Md, & Salam, A. (2019, October 12). Sensitivity study of plant species due
to traffic emitted air pollutants (NO2 and PM2.5) during different seasons in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Springer Link. Retrieved May 9, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-019-1421-
4

Shrestha, S., Baral, B., Dhital, N. B., & Yang, H. H. (2021, January 7). Assessing air pollution tolerance of
plant species in vegetation traffic barriers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. BMC. Retrieved May 11, 2023,
from https://sustainenvironres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42834-020-00076-2#:~:text=Air
%20pollution%20tolerance%20index%20(APTI,of%20traffic%20barrier%20plant
%20species5.%20https://sustainenvironres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42834-020-00076-2

The World Bank. The global health cost of PM2.5 air pollution: A case for action beyond 2021.
Washington, DC: World Bank License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO; 2022.