THE dry season is still here, and more individuals are opting to bring their own private cars and motorcycles to skip the hassle of having to commute going to work or wherever it is, during a very hot day.
However, the prevalence of numerous private cars has significant adverse effects on air quality. This includes increased emission of pollutants, contribution to greenhouse gases, and secondary impacts on human health and the environment.
Tuesday morning, May 14, the Manila Department of Public Services announced two areas around the city where an “unhealthy” air quality index (AQI) was recorded, while one was reported to have a good quality of air.
“Based on the map, Rizal Park has a “GOOD” AQI while an “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS” AQI was recorded at Barangay 128 and at the Fabella Hospital,” mentioned on their Facebook post.
Moreover, they also left a reminder for individuals who have health issues, “People with respiratory diseases such as asthma should limit outdoor activities within the vicinity of UFSG areas.”
According to their post, the purpose of having an update is to raise awareness on the quality of air around the metro. This is to minimize more health problems in the near future, with the rabid air quality.
Based on their post, the AQI has six levels on the index. Which are Good, Fair, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Very Unhealthy, Acutely Unhealthy, and Emegency level as the worst possible level.
In order to have a better AQI, mitigation strategies must be done to lessen the negative effects of having private cars affecting the air quality.
First and foremost, public transportation must be promoted. Individuals must be encouraged to use buses, trains, and other forms of public transit to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.
Electric vehicles, carpooling, and ride-sharing must also be a choice for citizens. These practices will help reduce cars on the road, and may also help in decreasing overall emissions.
The widespread use of private cars significantly deteriorates air quality through the emission of various pollutants and greenhouse gases, which in turn have profound effects on human health and the environment.
Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that includes technological, behavioral, and regulatory changes.
