GOVERNMENT agencies said Friday that the smog that blanketed Metro Manila was not caused by emissions from Taal Volcano in Batangas.

In its Taal Volcano air quality monitoring as of 8 a.m., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the volcanic smog was moving southwest or away from Metro Manila.

“It may be inferred that the smog may be primarily attributed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic, especially during rush hour,” the DENR said.

“Air quality varies in time and place and can change anytime depending on pollution sources and meteorological factors,” it added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) backed this assessment.

”Ito pong nakakaapekto sa Metro Manila, hindi puwedeng isisi nang buo sa Taal Volcano dahil sa kasalukuyan po, meron po tayong tinatawag na thermal inversion ng atmosphere. Kaya hindi nakakaalsa maigi ang mga pollutants natin sa siyudad,” PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division head Mariton Bornas said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

Classes at all levels were suspended across Metro Manila due to smog.

Meanwhile, the volcanic smog or vog is affecting Cavite and Batangas.

”As a reminder, vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as SO2 (sulfur dioxide) which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract with severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure,” PHIVOLCS said.

”People who may be particularly sensitive to vog are those with health conditions such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women and children,” it added.