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Discuss Gaps or difficulties in the study for Monitoring Air Quality

Protecting health is even more complex as it involves procedures of estimating the level of risks that these health hazards pose, and developing options to deal with health risks. It was decided to explore such complexity and interaction in the context of one aspect of environment and health: the health impact of air pollution and the modification of effects and gaps in air pollution will be discuss.

How air monitoring information affects human being

Ground-level ozone is a colorless gas formed by the chemical reaction of pollutants from automobiles, industries, and other sources, in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is a seasonal pollutant and occurs mainly in the summer months during weather periods of hot, stagnant air. Ozone levels are significantly lower in the cooler months and, as a result, DEQs ozone monitors only run from April 1 to October 31. Harmful ozone pollution can lead to aggravated asthma or an inflammation or damage to lungs. Particle pollution consists of microscopic particles of solids and liquid droplets suspended in air, some of which are so small that they are only one-fifth the size of a human hair. This matter is made up of particles found in soot, dust, smoke and fumes produced from burning coal, oil, diesel and other fuels. These particles are of greatest concern because they can be inhaled deep into the lungs and cause respiratory issues or aggravate existing lung and heart problems.

Particle pollutants have been linked to chronic bronchitis, asthma and heart attacks. DEQ maintains a daily log of current air quality conditions on its web site at

These studies have identified specific GAPS that limit the identification of relationship between severity of air pollution and health effects of exposed communities.

Among these are:

Limited ambient air quality data in Metro Manila; Limited exposure assessment data to estimate the presence and severity of health outcome related to air pollution and establishing exposure-response relationship coefficients; Lack of complete, valid and reliable data for the geographic mapping of risk areas that air is shed; Limited implementation of a standardized health reporting and recording system on mortality and morbidity statistics both at the national and local levels; Absence of a standardized system for monitoring, recording and reporting of health statistics at the hospital level (government and private) that is interfaced with the local government health unit and with the Department of Health; and Lack of implementable compliance monitoring and audit systems (incentives and disincentives) to ensure that all health providers (government and private) would comply

with the health recording and reporting requirements.

Health issues

Public Health Monitoring of the Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program

Several epidemiological studies on the impact of air pollution to health have been conducted in numerous counties. In a study among drivers and commuters, symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as cough, phlegm, wheezing and shortness of breath were found to be more than twice prevalent among jeepney drivers as among commuters or air conditioned bus drivers (1). The study also reported that being a driver of any machine have increases the risk of abnormal pulmonary function by approximately 50 percent and the risk of obstructive pulmonary disease more than doubles. Another epidemiological study on school children and child vendors reported that child vendors should be the childrens group at greater risk, both because of the roadside environments they work in and also, because of their low socioeconomic status and the risks which attend it . In general, it was reported that respirable particulate levels are above the acceptable levels in countries that the excess mortality attributable to urban air pollution expressed as mid-point of range , is 28 percent from respiratory diseases and 13 percent from cardiovascular diseases.

Comparatively, estimates in 1995, using dose-response equations for valuing health impacts reveal that PM10 may be attributed to cause 1,545 excess deaths and 41.8 million respiratory symptom days at a total cost of 5,373 million pesos in Metro Manila. In a 1996 study among 630 infants in Metro Manila, it was reported that the cumulative incidences of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and cough and colds in study areas were 81.5 per 1000 infants and 584.5 per 1000 infants respectively . From the same study, the major risk factors identified to be significant in the development of ALRI among infants were PM10 level indoors, absence of breastfeeding, and the number of smokers in the household of infants.

Air quality including more human health that influence difficulties in research

The increase in production capacity increases the total atmospheric emissions from the proposed smelter by approximately 36% (base case) and 48% (upside case), i.e. identical to the increase in production. Based on the results of the revised modelling and quantitative assessments undertaken during the technology review no changes in the significance assessment ratings, as specified in the Final EIR, were made. The most important findings with regard to air quality and human health are listed below:

Sulphur dioxide - modelled SO2 annual average and 24-hour maximum concentrations donot exceed international guidelines or standards. The modelled 1-hour maximum concentration exceeds the

proposed South African standard concentration. The exceedence is mostly limited to the smelter site with relatively few off-site exceedences.

There are no acute or chronic health effects expected in any healthy or sensitive individual exposed to the predicted SO2 concentrations, even under an absolute worst-case scenario.

Hydrogen fluoride - there are no adverse health effects, either acute (such as irritation) orchronic (skeletal fluorosis), expected in any individual, including sensitive individuals.

Particulate fluoride - it is unlikely for any individual to develop skeletal fluorosis from exposure to fluoride particulates emitted by the smelter.

Fluoride deposition - although fluoride deposition rates are low, negative impacts in ecological receptors could occur in the IDZ, or further afield. The receptors may include surface waters and vegetation.

Greenhouse gas emissions - the smelter emissions are relatively small, but those associated with electricity use are large, although this has not been assessed in this study.

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