Air pollution a major health hazard for Manilans

When the old year passes and a new year starts, Metro Manila residents are normally bombarded by air pollution as fireworks cover the atmosphere with smoke coming from burning gunpowder.

About 98 percent of Metro Manila residents are affected by air pollution as celebrations and festivities marking the new year is observed in Metro Manila, Antonio M. Claparol, president of the Ecological Society of the Philippines, said as he warned that respiratory diseases such as asthma, the common colds and influenza can affect most of the residents.

Claparols said most Metro Manila residents believe air pollution is having a significant impact on their lives, particularly on their health and well being and that the problem was not improving.

With 98 percccent of residents in Manila indicating they are affected by the air pollution and 71 percent believing that the air quallity has worsened over the past year, air pollution is clearly a significant problem for a very large proportion of the population, Claparols said.

"Air pollution is affecting people in many different ways, with 82 percent of residents indicating that they were experiencing irritation to their eyes, nose and throat, 57 percent breathless or having more difficulties in breathing and 27 percent attributing skin problems to the pollution, "he added.

Air pollution is also having an impact on people’s emotional lives, with 62 percent feeling depressed due to the air pollution. Of those people affected by air pollution, 50 percent indicated that it made them want to move to a less polluted place.

"The survey reveals that residents in Manila aren’t  just being affected by the air pollution in a physical manner, but that it is also having a perceived effect on their emotional lives. This is a real cost, both in terms of increased medical bills and standard  of living, he said.

A further 75 percent of residents agree that power stations and factories should switch to cleaner processes even if consumer bills and prices have to go up.

Residents in Manila are also ready to take individual action, with 93 percent believing that improving the environment is the responsibility of every citizen and 77 percent indicating that they are actively involved in cleaning up the environment.

However, further education is required, with 87 perceent of residents believing that it they knew how to contribute to a better environment they would take action. The government also needs to be involved, with 94 perccent of the respondents indicating that they would like to see the government more active by implementing recycling programs in the city.the city.