Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

REPORT SHEET

Experiment 6
AIR POLLUTION: AIR QUALITY INDEX

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Table 6.1. Selected location and AQI parameters measured.

AQI parameters measured
Location Air Quality based on the AQI Scale
(based on waqi.com)
Burnham Park, The AQI 72 indicates that Burnham
Baguio City, PM10:72 Park has a moderate level of air
Philippines quality.

Table 6.2. Air quality historical data.

AQI parameter
Date Covered September 2017 – October 2020
Department of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - Air
Data Sources
Quality Management Section
Historical Data

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

What can be inferred about the AQI data for the location you selected?

Based on the AQI data of Burnham Park in Baguio City, it can be observed that the

recorded level of air quality from September 2017 until December 2017 is mostly at the

good level except for that one day in October where it is at a moderate level. For the year

2018, the recorded level of air quality is mostly at the good level except March 2018

wherein the data showed that there are some days where the air quality is moderate and

unhealthy for sensitive groups. For the year 2019, the recorded level of air quality from

September 2017 until December 2017 is all at a good level. Lastly, for the year 2020, the

recorded level of air quality from January up to October 2020 is mostly at a good level.

However, during January and October 2020 respectively, the data showed a day of

moderate level of air quality. The data recorded during September 2020 also indicates that

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

there’s an unhealthy for sensitive groups level of air quality data for Burnham Park. Overall,

the given AQI data proves that Burnham Park has good air quality most of the time and that

the air quality in their location

rarely goes above the good air quality index.

Table 6.3. Source of air pollution.

Source Details*
Stationary Source There are no notable stationary sources in the vicinity of
Burnham Park that emits large amounts of PM10 pollutants
as seen in the images bellow. This can be further backed up
by the air quality historical data which shows that the air
quality in Burnham Park, Baguio City is satisfactory.

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

Images from Google Maps

There are 64,000 registered private vehicles in Baguio, 5,000

registered public utility jeepneys, 3,200 registered taxis,
excluding the fact that Baguio is congested with tourist
Mobile Source traffic yearly, mobile sources such as cars really is a great
contributor of PM10 pollutants. This is an actual footage
which features the congested streets of Baguio:
[September 6, 2021] Traffic Update in Baguio City

Burnham Park was declared as a heritage park and this

entails the preservation of its natural appearance. Hence,
the park’s natural dirt is preserved and with thousands of
people visiting the park, the dirt is naturally dispersed. That
and combined with a wind speed ranging from 4.1-6.8 mph,
Area Source this makes the park itself an area source of PM10 pollutant.
Another example of an area source of PM10 pollutants in
Burnham Park is the reconstruction of roads near the park
recently. This is an actual footage which features said
renovations:
Baguio City: Burnham Park under renovation
* Cite your references.

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

Table 6.4. Impact of air pollution.

Parameter Details*
Polluted air can cause immediate aggravated cardiovascular
and respiratory illnesses, due to the stress it presents to the
heart and lungs of a human body, making it harder to
Health supply oxygen to the whole body. On the long-term
exposure, polluted air accelerates the aging of lungs,
development of cardiovascular diseases, thus shortening
the lifespan of a person.

Polluted air has different effect on the climate, like black

carbon and ozone increases the temperature by trapping
heat in the atmosphere while sulfur dioxide have a cooling
Climate effect by forming light reflecting particles, this complex
relationship between polluted air and the atmosphere
affects climate changes to extremities, such as hotter 'El
Niño' or a catastrophic typhoons.

When air becomes polluted, it results to polluting the

precipitation, thus results in acid rains which then in turn
pollutes the soil it waters. The quality of water has a close
Water Quality
relationship with the quality of air, thus if air quality is
compromised plant growth and quality will be severely
affected.

When exposed to a concentrated variations of air pollutant

it would injure agricultural crops, resulting to reduce to low
growth and yield, even a premature death of a plant. Since
Agriculture plants are exposed mostly to water and air, polluted air
means low quality of water and air that the plant will
receive, resulting into decay of agricultural quality of the
land.
* Give details for at least one parameter. Cite your references.

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

Table 6.5. Air quality management/action plan.

Give details of a possible plan to minimize the air pollution. What are the ways to
control the different sources of pollution you specified?

As our country continues to develop with growing industries, air pollution

increases daily which consists of matters present in the atmosphere that can harm us,
humans, and other living things. Air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide
which are main components of acid rain, carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter.
All these can cause negative implications to human health and the environment, that is
why it is necessary to minimize air pollution.
The main source of pollution in Baguio City is the vehicles. With the high number
of vehicles, not only in this city, but around the world, transportation has been one of the
major sources of air pollution. Vehicles emit lead which can damage nervous system,
cardiovascular system, and renal system.
In a certain area, the head officials must promote clean air day more by
encouraging individuals to think of ways to reduce air pollution. Twice a month,
individuals should be encouraged to walk or use bicycles when going somewhere nearby.
Many people own motor vehicles nowadays. Even they are just going somewhere near,
they would opt to use their motorcycles. Using bicycles or walking will not only help the
environment, but also the individual to be fit and healthy by exercising. On the other
hand, if they’re going to work and really needs to be in a car, then carpooling can also be
considered, also to avoid traffic jams and save money.
Ensuring that vehicles are in good condition is also a must. Regular maintenance
of vehicles can help to ensure that it is not emitting too much harmful materials in the
atmosphere. It should be required that at least once in two months, registered vehicles
have undergone checking. Furthermore, contact numbers of the Land Transportation
Office must be known for the people to easily report smoke-belching vehicles.
In addition, individuals may also be encouraged to use clean fuels as alternatives
such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) should be
promoted. A strict coding policy should also be implemented to lessen release emissions
from vehicles.
Local Government Units from Burnham Park should be at the frontline of
implementing air quality management by making sure that everyone within the district
will follow the rules and regulations of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, Biofuels Act of
2006, and other laws and legal issuances related to air quality management. They should
also take the initiative to monitor the air quality of Burnham Park every 24 hours to know

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

if the air quality management implemented needs an improvement or not.

* Cite your references.
REFERENCES (cite the references that you used)

(n.d.). Air pollution and Climate Change - European Commission. Retrieved October 23, 2021,
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(n.d.). Air Quality Information for the Sacramento Region – Health Effects. Sacramento Region
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(n.d.). Burnham Park, Baguio City, Philippines Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index.
aqicn.org. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://aqicn.org/city/philippines/baguio-
city/burnham-park

Canada, E. and C. C. (2013 July 17). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved October 23,
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pollution/quality-environment-economy/ecosystem/effects-soil-water.html

(n.d.). Effects of Air Pollution on Agricultural Crops. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
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%20crops%20can%20be%20injured,premature%20death%20of%20the%20plant

(n.d.). The City Government of Baguio. Council declares Burnham Park as heritage area | City
Government of Baguio. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from
https://www.baguio.gov.ph/content/council-declares-burnham-park-heritage-area

(n.d.). The City Government of Baguio. Too many private cars worsening Baguio's traffic | City
Government of Baguio. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from
https://www.baguio.gov.ph/content/too-many-private-cars-worsening-baguio’s-traffic

(n.d.). WeatherSpark.com. Baguio Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature

(Philippines) - Weather Spark. Retrieved October, 23, 2021, from
https://weatherspark.com/y/135196/Average-Weather-in-Baguio-Philippines-Year-
Round

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Experiment 6: Air Pollution: Air Quality Index

Saliha (2017 October 24). What are four examples of air pollutants? Environmental Science.
Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-four-
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Victor (2016 August 2). Vehicle Pollution: Meaning, Causes, Effects and Solution. Important
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pollution/

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