Impact of Mixed Sources on the Atmospheric Aerosols of Urbanized Areas in the Philippines

Preciosa Corazon B. Pabroa; Joseph Michael D. Racho; John Robin Yee; Lawrence Adrian Tacliad; Haron Deo Vargaz; Iara Chantrelle V. Coronel; Raymond J. Sugcang; Christian Mark G. Salvador

doi:10.4209/aaqr.230122

Impact of Mixed Sources on the Atmospheric Aerosols of Urbanized Areas in the Philippines

Preciosa Corazon B. Pabroa, Joseph Michael D. Racho, John Robin Yee, Lawrence Adrian Tacliad, Haron Deo Vargaz, Iara Chantrelle V. Coronel, Raymond J. Sugcang, Christian Mark G. Salvador

Environmental Risk and Energy Analysis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Southeast Asia (SEA) holds approximately 10% of the global population, who are constantly exposed to severe local and transboundary air pollution. Here, we characterized the physiochemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in urbanized areas (Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay) in the Philippines. The variability of coarse and fine aerosols, black carbon (BC), and trace elements of particulate matter (PM) were analyzed between June 2017 and April 2019. The average fine (coarse) aerosols of Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay were 26.7 (80.4), 27.9 (86.6), and 20.9 (124.6) µg m^–3, respectively, which all exceeded the recent annual limits of the World Health Organization. The average BC level was 6.6 µg m^–3 across three sampling sites, ranging between 4 to 83% of the fine PM mass. Vehicular emission predominated at the extreme urban sites as reflected by the high BC levels attributed to transport activities. The conventional receptor modeling procedure was implemented and improved by integrating BC speciation, which distinguished vehicle emission and biomass burning. The new method revealed eight and seven sources influencing the atmospheric conditions of Valenzuela and Boracay. In particular, the elevated zinc and lead highlighted the substantial impact of industrial sources in Valenzuela, attributing more than 9% of PM2.5. For Boracay, construction activities evidently enhanced PM based on the mass burden of calcium. Overall, the results uncovered the origin of PM2.5 in urbanized locations in the Philippines, which will be valuable in reducing the exposure of a significant portion of the global population to harmful pollutants.

Original language	English
Article number	230122
Journal	Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Volume	24
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230122
State	Published - Mar 1 2024

Funding

The authors wish to thank the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) for the financial support, the PNRI Nuclear Analytical Techniques Application Section staff for their all-out support in this study with involvement in various capacities, Environmental Management Bureau (Central and National Capital Region), and Local Government Unit of Malay for their assistance and support in this study. This study was funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

Funders	Funder number
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
National Research Council of the Philippines

Keywords

Local pollution
MABI
Southeast Asia
Urban emissions

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.4209/aaqr.230122

Cite this

@article{33301b57df94487fb4572816b1af7499,

title = "Impact of Mixed Sources on the Atmospheric Aerosols of Urbanized Areas in the Philippines",

abstract = "Southeast Asia (SEA) holds approximately 10% of the global population, who are constantly exposed to severe local and transboundary air pollution. Here, we characterized the physiochemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in urbanized areas (Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay) in the Philippines. The variability of coarse and fine aerosols, black carbon (BC), and trace elements of particulate matter (PM) were analyzed between June 2017 and April 2019. The average fine (coarse) aerosols of Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay were 26.7 (80.4), 27.9 (86.6), and 20.9 (124.6) µg m–3, respectively, which all exceeded the recent annual limits of the World Health Organization. The average BC level was 6.6 µg m–3 across three sampling sites, ranging between 4 to 83% of the fine PM mass. Vehicular emission predominated at the extreme urban sites as reflected by the high BC levels attributed to transport activities. The conventional receptor modeling procedure was implemented and improved by integrating BC speciation, which distinguished vehicle emission and biomass burning. The new method revealed eight and seven sources influencing the atmospheric conditions of Valenzuela and Boracay. In particular, the elevated zinc and lead highlighted the substantial impact of industrial sources in Valenzuela, attributing more than 9% of PM2.5. For Boracay, construction activities evidently enhanced PM based on the mass burden of calcium. Overall, the results uncovered the origin of PM2.5 in urbanized locations in the Philippines, which will be valuable in reducing the exposure of a significant portion of the global population to harmful pollutants.",

keywords = "Local pollution, MABI, Southeast Asia, Urban emissions",

author = "Pabroa, {Preciosa Corazon B.} and Racho, {Joseph Michael D.} and Yee, {John Robin} and Tacliad, {Lawrence Adrian} and Vargaz, {Haron Deo} and Coronel, {Iara Chantrelle V.} and Sugcang, {Raymond J.} and Salvador, {Christian Mark G.}",

year = "2024",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.4209/aaqr.230122",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

journal = "Aerosol and Air Quality Research",

issn = "1680-8584",

publisher = "Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of Mixed Sources on the Atmospheric Aerosols of Urbanized Areas in the Philippines

AU - Pabroa, Preciosa Corazon B.

AU - Racho, Joseph Michael D.

AU - Yee, John Robin

AU - Tacliad, Lawrence Adrian

AU - Vargaz, Haron Deo

AU - Coronel, Iara Chantrelle V.

AU - Sugcang, Raymond J.

AU - Salvador, Christian Mark G.

PY - 2024/3/1

Y1 - 2024/3/1

N2 - Southeast Asia (SEA) holds approximately 10% of the global population, who are constantly exposed to severe local and transboundary air pollution. Here, we characterized the physiochemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in urbanized areas (Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay) in the Philippines. The variability of coarse and fine aerosols, black carbon (BC), and trace elements of particulate matter (PM) were analyzed between June 2017 and April 2019. The average fine (coarse) aerosols of Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay were 26.7 (80.4), 27.9 (86.6), and 20.9 (124.6) µg m–3, respectively, which all exceeded the recent annual limits of the World Health Organization. The average BC level was 6.6 µg m–3 across three sampling sites, ranging between 4 to 83% of the fine PM mass. Vehicular emission predominated at the extreme urban sites as reflected by the high BC levels attributed to transport activities. The conventional receptor modeling procedure was implemented and improved by integrating BC speciation, which distinguished vehicle emission and biomass burning. The new method revealed eight and seven sources influencing the atmospheric conditions of Valenzuela and Boracay. In particular, the elevated zinc and lead highlighted the substantial impact of industrial sources in Valenzuela, attributing more than 9% of PM2.5. For Boracay, construction activities evidently enhanced PM based on the mass burden of calcium. Overall, the results uncovered the origin of PM2.5 in urbanized locations in the Philippines, which will be valuable in reducing the exposure of a significant portion of the global population to harmful pollutants.

AB - Southeast Asia (SEA) holds approximately 10% of the global population, who are constantly exposed to severe local and transboundary air pollution. Here, we characterized the physiochemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in urbanized areas (Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay) in the Philippines. The variability of coarse and fine aerosols, black carbon (BC), and trace elements of particulate matter (PM) were analyzed between June 2017 and April 2019. The average fine (coarse) aerosols of Valenzuela, Manila, and Boracay were 26.7 (80.4), 27.9 (86.6), and 20.9 (124.6) µg m–3, respectively, which all exceeded the recent annual limits of the World Health Organization. The average BC level was 6.6 µg m–3 across three sampling sites, ranging between 4 to 83% of the fine PM mass. Vehicular emission predominated at the extreme urban sites as reflected by the high BC levels attributed to transport activities. The conventional receptor modeling procedure was implemented and improved by integrating BC speciation, which distinguished vehicle emission and biomass burning. The new method revealed eight and seven sources influencing the atmospheric conditions of Valenzuela and Boracay. In particular, the elevated zinc and lead highlighted the substantial impact of industrial sources in Valenzuela, attributing more than 9% of PM2.5. For Boracay, construction activities evidently enhanced PM based on the mass burden of calcium. Overall, the results uncovered the origin of PM2.5 in urbanized locations in the Philippines, which will be valuable in reducing the exposure of a significant portion of the global population to harmful pollutants.

KW - Local pollution

KW - MABI

KW - Southeast Asia

KW - Urban emissions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186118699&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.4209/aaqr.230122

DO - 10.4209/aaqr.230122

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85186118699

SN - 1680-8584

VL - 24

JO - Aerosol and Air Quality Research

JF - Aerosol and Air Quality Research

IS - 3

M1 - 230122

ER -

Impact of Mixed Sources on the Atmospheric Aerosols of Urbanized Areas in the Philippines

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this