NCR blanketed by smog with high levels of toxic particles after New Year revelry

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) --- A thick layer of smog greeted residents of Metro Manila in the first few hours of the new year, caused by firecrackers used during the evening revelry, environment officials said on Tuesday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said a high level of toxic fine particles in the air were monitored between 12 am and 2 am of Jan. 1.

“Yung particles mismo and gases coming from firecrackers contain toxic materials po or toxic heavy metals,” DENR-EMB Air Quality Section chief Jundy del Socorro told CNN Philippines. “Sila yung nagbibigay ng ilaw sa mga paputok.”

[Translation: The particles and gases coming from firecrackers contain toxic materials and toxic heavy metals. These give light to the firecrackers.]

For instance, Caloocan City recorded 467 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of the toxic fine particles in the first two hours of 2024.

This is almost six times higher than the 70 µg/m3 recorded in the same period in 2023.

Makati City (277 µg/m3) and Pateros (240 µg/m3) also logged high levels of toxic fine particles from 12am to 2am of Jan. 1.

In the same period last year, Makati City had 49 µg/m3 while Pateros had 80 µg/m3.

The DENR-EMB warned that only up to 35 µg/m3 of the fine particles must be present in the air.

But the air quality in several cities in Metro Manila has already improved to normal levels as of Tuesday, according to DENR-EMB's data.

The Department of Health earlier warned that smog is dangerous to people with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive lung disease.

The DENR-EMB added that the use of firecrackers also poses hazards to the environment and animals.

“Due to combustion meron ding carbon monoxide both not good for environment and human health, respiratory and heart problems,” said Del Socorro. “Hindi lang sa halaman, pati sa animal.”

[Translation: Due to combustion, it produces carbon monoxide which is not good both for the environment and human health, especially those with respiratory and heart problems. It’s bad not just for the plants, but also for animals.]

The DENR-EMB is hoping for a stronger enforcement