There is one place asthmatic Metro Manila residents should be after the New Year revelry: indoors.
This was according to Dr. Regalado Ramirez, as he noted the increase in air pollution following a night of fireworks and firecrackers.
Ramirez, of Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center's Internal Medicine Department, said toxic particles from firecrackers remain in the atmosphere for days.
These particles, he said, can be harmful to the lungs and may cause health risks to those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“In some people, especially those with asthma, 'yung naturalesa ng katawan nila nagre-react sa smog, sa usok ng firecrackers. So, magti-trigger ng bronchu spasm, 'yung paggalaw ng daanan ng hangin, kaya sila nahihirapang huminga... na pwede mag-cause ng pneumonia,” Ramirez said in an interview on GMA News TV's “News To Go” on Wednesday.
He added that these toxic particles stay longer in the atmosphere because of the cold weather.
“Ambient temperature is relatively cold so medyo matagal ma-disperse unlike sa warm weather,” Ramirez said.
Toxic fumes
According to Ramirez, all firecrackers produce toxic fumes that generate toxic dust and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide. Firecrackers also have toxic chemicals such as aluminum, arsenic, barium and copper salt, he added.
“They can cause respiratory problems and some of these are carcinogenic, then so pwede mag-cause ng cancer,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said that toxic dusts stay suspended in the air for about two to three days.
Because of this, he urged Metro Manila residents, especially those with asthma and COPD, to stay indoors.
Last 2012, a survey lead by PAGASA showed that there was a 320-percent increase of smog incidence in Metro Manila during New Year revelry, Ramirez said.
Meanwhile, Health undersecretary Janette Garin clarified over radio dzBB that haze—not smog—covered Metro Manila's atmosphere after the New Year revelry. She said haze is still a health concern for humans.
“Ang haze na dulot ng paputok ay parang nicotine na 'pag pumasok sa katawan ay sisingilin ka pagkalipas ng mga taon,” Garin said. — Rouchelle Dinglasan/KBK, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
