RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN THE PHILIPPINES food chain, and property values.

Pollutants may be solid,

liquid, or gas, and can originate from natural or
1. Philippine Environmental Policy anthropogenic sources, or both.
Presidential Decree No. 1151 (06 June 1977) Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
This decree establishes a national environmental
protection program that mandates environmental • Nitrogen (78.09%)
impact assessments for various projects. This • Oxygen (20.95%)
ensures that development is sustainable and does • Argon (0.93%)
not compromise the environment for future • Trace Gases (0.03%): This includes greenhouse
generations. gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
2. Philippine Environmental Impact Statement and ozone.
System Sources of Air Pollution
Presidential Decree No. 1586 (11 June 1978)
This system classifies development projects as 1. Natural Sources: Pollen grains, volcanic eruptions,
either environmentally critical or non-critical. For forest fires, dust storms, spores, bacteria, and
projects that may have significant environmental other microorganisms.
impacts, an Environmental Compliance Certificate 2. Stationary Sources: Fixed emitters such as fossil
(ECC) is required to proceed. fuel-burning power plants, petroleum refineries,
3. Climate Change Act of 2009 and petrochemical plants.
Republic Act No. 9729 3. Man-made Sources: Industrial units, thermal
This act integrates climate change adaptation and power plants, automobile exhausts, fossil fuel
mitigation into government policies. It establishes burning, mining, nuclear explosions.
the Climate Change Commission, which 4. Mobile Sources: Non-stationary sources like
coordinates efforts related to climate change. automobiles, buses, trucks, ships, trains, and
4. Writ of Kalikasan aircraft.
Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases (A.M.
No. 09-6-8-SC, 29 April 2010) CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTANTS
The Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy that allows
individuals or groups to seek protection for their 1. Primary Pollutants: Emitted directly from
right to a healthy environment when it is violated or identifiable sources (e.g., Particulate Matter (PM),
threatened. Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Volatile Organic
Compounds, Carbon Monoxide, and Lead).
POLLUTION 2. Secondary Pollutants: Formed when primary air
pollutants react with one another or with other
Definition: Pollution is any change in the background chemicals (e.g., ozone, formaldehyde, smog, acid
concentration or the introduction of any substance into the mist, sulfuric acid).
environment that adversely affects the usefulness of a
resource. POLLUTANT SOURCES AND EFFECTS
Miscellaneous Sources:
John F. Kennedy Quote: "Our most basic common link is
that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air.
• Fuel Combustion: Fossil fuels, land use, and
We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal."
industrial processes contribute to air pollution. For
example, fossil fuel combustion, particularly from
AIR POLLUTION: THE SILENT KILLER
vehicles and industrial processes, emits large
quantities of pollutants.
Air pollution is one of the world's leading risk factors for
• Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless Gas: Pollutants
death. It is associated with many of the leading causes of
like CO2 have no immediate sensory impact but
mortality, including heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory
contribute significantly to long-term climate
infections, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive
effects.
pulmonary disease (COPD).
Specific Pollutants and Their Effects:
Air Pollution Defined
1. LIST OF IMPORTANT AIR TOXICS
Air pollution refers to any alteration of the physical,
a. Carbon Monoxide
chemical, and biological properties of the atmospheric air,
• Colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
or the discharge of any liquid, gaseous, or solid substances
• No effect at normal concentration
that could make the air harmful or detrimental to public
(0.1ppm)
health, safety, or welfare. This is outlined in the Clean Air
Act of 1999. • Effects: Headache, nausea, fatigue

AIR POLLUTANTS Extreme: Convulsions, Unconsciousness, Cardio-

respiratory Failure, Death
Pollutants can dwell temporarily or permanently in the air,
altering the environment by affecting health, comfort, or the b. Carbon Dioxide
• Colorless, odorless gas
 • Primary source: fossil fuel combustion • People with existing heart and lung disease,
• And although they still account for only as well as elderly and children, are
0.04% of the atmosphere, that still adds particularly at risk
up to billions upon billions of tons of heat- g. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
trapping gas. For example, in 2019 alone,
humans dumped 36.44 billion tonnes of • Volatile organic compounds are
CO2 into the atmosphere, where it will compounds that have a high vapor
linger for hundreds of years. So there are pressure and low water solubility
plenty of CO2 molecules to provide a • Volatile organic compounds
heat-trapping blanket across the entire (VOCs) are emitted as gases from
atmosphere. certain solids or liquids
c. OXIDES OF NITROGEN • VOCs include a variety of
• NOx group contains NO, NO2 , N2O chemicals, some of which may
• Fuel combustion in automobiles and have short- and long-term adverse
industries health effects
• Lightning • Concentrations of many VOCs are
• Forest fires consistently higher indoors (up to
• Natural ionizing radiations ten times higher) than outdoors.
• Effects: Reduce blood carrying capacity, VOCs are emitted by a wide array
Causes lung problems of products numbering in the
d. OXIDES OF SULFUR thousands
• Generally called SOx, include SO2, SO3
h. Benzene
67% of SOx pollution due to volcanic activities and
other natural resources • Sources: burning coal and oil,
vehicle exhaust, industrial
• Industrial activities solvents, tobacco smoke
• Effects: Respiratory problems, Marbles, • Acute effects: include dizziness,
clothes, paper, leather also affected, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and
Plants also heavily affected irritation of skin and mucous
e. Hydrocarbons membranes
• Include particulate methane, ethylene, • Chronic effects: include blood
acetylene, terpenes, etc. disorders including aplastic
• Sources include coal fields, natural fires anemia, adverse effects on fetal
• Incomplete combustion development, and leukemia
• Forest fires
• Agricultural burning i. Beryllium Compounds
• Carcinogenic Effect, Form ozone, and
PAN which are harmful, Damage plants, • Sources: burning coal and oil,
rubber materials, fabrics and paints. tobacco smoke, natural
f. Particulate Matter (PM) occurrence in soil
• Particles of different substances • Acute effects: include
suspended in the air in the form of solid inflammation and swelling of the
particles, and liquid droplets lungs
• Include: aerosols, dust, smoke, fumes, • Chronic effects: include chronic
mist, fog, fly ash etc. beryllium disease (development of
• Come from a variety of sources: noncancerous lesions in the lungs)
✓ Diesel trucks and buses
✓ Construction equipment j. Coke Oven Immissions
✓ Power Plants
✓ Woodstoves • Sources: coke ovens
✓ Wildfires • Effects: include conjunctivitis,
dermatitis, lesions of respiratory
• Chemical reactions in the atmosphere and digestive systems, and various
can transform gases into fine particles. cancers
• Effects:
• Premature death k. Formaldehyde
• Aggravated asthma • SOURCES: building materials and home
• Acute respiratory symptoms furnishings, power plants, incineration of
waste, automobile exhaust, tobacco
• Chronic Bronchitis
smoke
• Decreased lung function (shortness of breath)
• EFFECTS: acute effects include irritation
of eyes and respiratory tract and
 inflammation of mouth, esophagus, and 1. On Plants: Decreases agricultural yield,
stomach if ingested; chronic effects suppresses growth of vegetables, causes leaf
include lesions in respiratory tract, injury, and damages young plants.
menstrual disorders, and lung and 2. On Materials: Causes corrosion of metals,
nasopharyngeal cancer deterioration of building materials, damages
l. Nickel Compounds protective coatings and paints, and affects artwork
• SOURCES: nickel processing, fossil-fuel due to suspended particulate matter (SPM).
burning, sewage sludge incineration
• EFFECTS: acute effects include lung and Health Effects of AIR POLLUTION can be:
kidney damage (anecdotal reports) and
gastrointestinal disorders; chronic effects Acute or Short-Term Symptoms:
include dermatitis and asthma
m. Radionucleides (radon, radium, uranium) Acute or short-term symptoms are often much more severe
• SOURCES: ambient air (radon, uranium), in individuals predisposed to adverse respiratory events.
drinking water (uranium), uranium mines Common short-term effects include irritated mucous
and processing facilities, phosphate membranes, inflammation of the bronchial tubes, and
fertilizers possible airway restriction. These effects can be
• EFFECTS: chronic effects include lung, particularly dangerous for individuals with pre-existing
bone, and nasal cancer respiratory conditions, as the inflammation and irritation
n. Selenium Compounds can exacerbate their symptoms.

• SOURCES: drinking water and Chronic or Long-Term Effects of Exposure:

ambient air, some plastics and
paints, pharmaceutical production Chronic or long-term effects of exposure to air pollutants
• EFFECTS: acute effects include may include chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes,
irritation of the respiratory and sustained airway restriction, or pulmonary emphysema. For
gastrointestinal tracts; chronic example, pulmonary emphysema, which results in
effects include loss of hair and shortness of breath due to the destruction of the alveoli
tooth decay and discoloration membranes in the lungs, has been linked to exposure to
airborne asbestos dust. This condition is characterized by a
o. Vinyl Chloride gradual decrease in lung function, making breathing
increasingly difficult over time.
• SOURCES: manufacture of
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is Air Pollution Control
used in pipes, furniture, and
automobiles Preventive Measures:
• EFFECTS: acute effects include
central nervous system issues 1. Selection of Suitable Fuel:
including dizziness, drowsiness, o Application: Commonly applied in power
headaches, loss of consciousness, generation industries, particularly coal
and inhibition of blood clotting; power plants.
chronic effects include, rarely, vinyl o How it Works: Selecting low-sulfur fuels
chloride disease, in which changes reduces sulfur dioxide emissions, which
occur in the bones and skin of the are a significant contributor to air pollution.
fingers and sensitivity to cold is For example, using natural gas (CNG)
increased, and liver cancer instead of coal can significantly lower
emissions of harmful pollutants.
2. Modification in Industrial Processes:
o Application: Applicable in various
FACTORS AFFECTING HUMAN HEALTH industries, including manufacturing and
chemical processing.
o How it Works: Modifying processes to
The impact of air pollutants on human health depends on:
reduce pollutant formation at the source.
For instance, using cleaner production
• Nature of the pollutants
techniques or upgrading to more efficient
• Concentration of the pollutants
machinery can minimize the release of
• Duration of exposure
pollutants.
• State of health receptor
3. Selection of Suitable Site and Zoning for
• Age group of receptor
Industrial Units:
o Application: Urban planning and industrial
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PLANTS AND
development.
MATERIALS
o How it Works: Placing industrial facilities
in areas that minimize exposure to the
 population and sensitive environments can • Temperature and/or humidity imbalances
reduce the impact of emissions. • Too much glare
4. Control Measures Using Equipment: • Inadequate fresh air leading to carbon dioxide
o Collecting Pollutants: (CO2) buildup
▪ Application: Found in industries • Normal outdoor CO2 levels are around 350 ppm;
such as cement production, metal indoor levels can reach 600-800 ppm, and levels
processing, and power generation. above 1000 ppm can cause tiredness and
▪ How it Works: Equipment like sleepiness.
electrostatic precipitators and • The Cal/OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit for CO2
baghouses collect particulate is 5000 ppm.
matter from emissions before they
are released into the atmosphere. Measurements Needed to Monitor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
o Destroying Pollutants:
▪ Application: Used in chemical According to the IAQ Handbook (2011), the following
manufacturing and waste measurements are necessary to monitor indoor air quality:
incineration.
▪ How it Works: Pollutants are • Room temperature
destroyed by thermal or catalytic • Relative humidity (RH)
combustion, converting harmful • Air movement and flow (velocity, volume, and
substances into less toxic forms. ventilation)
o Changing Pollutants to Less Toxic Forms: • CO and CO2 levels
▪ Application: Chemical processing • Ultrafine particles (UFPs)
industries. • Bioaerosols
▪ How it Works: Chemical reactions • Chemicals in aerosol form (condensates)
are used to convert hazardous • Light, noise, vibrations, and ergonomics
pollutants into less harmful
substances before they are Indoor Air Quality Control
emitted.
Strategies:
Indoor Air Pollution
1. Source Control:
Definition: Indoor air pollution describes the situation o Application: Common in residential,
when gases or particulate pollutants build up in indoor commercial, and industrial buildings.
atmospheres to the point where they affect human health o How it Works: Source control eliminates
or comfort. individual sources of pollutants or reduces
their emissions. This approach is usually
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air the most effective strategy for reducing
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62: This pollutants and is more cost-efficient than
standard recommends 15 to 20 Cubic Feet per Minute increasing ventilation, as it avoids the
(CFM) of outdoor air per person to maintain good indoor air higher energy costs associated with more
quality. ventilation.
2. Ventilation:
Sick Building Syndrome (Tight Building Syndrome) o Application: Applied in HVAC systems for
buildings.
Definition: Sick Building Syndrome is used to describe o How it Works: Ventilation increases the
situations in which building occupants experience acute amount of outdoor air coming indoors,
health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to helping to control indoor temperatures and
the time spent in a particular building. No specific illness remove or dilute airborne pollutants.
can be identified, but complaints may be localized in a Ventilation can be improved through:
particular room or widespread throughout the building. ▪ Natural Ventilation: Using
windows and doors.
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution: ▪ Mechanical Ventilation: Through
HVAC systems.
• Contaminated outdoor air ▪ Infiltration: Outdoor air flows into
• Emissions from nearby sources the house through openings, joints,
• Moisture or standing water promoting excessive cracks, and around windows and
microbial growth doors.
• Equipment and human activities 3. Air Cleaners:
• Housekeeping and maintenance activities o Application: Used in homes, offices, and
• Building components and furnishings industrial settings.
• Unsanitary conditions and water damage o How it Works: Air-cleaning devices, such
• Chemicals released by building components as air filters, remove pollutants from indoor
air. Some are installed in the ductwork of a
Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality: home’s central heating, ventilating, and air-
 conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the
air in the entire house.

Standards and Guidelines

Environmental standards and guidelines are crucial for

maintaining indoor air quality and ensuring that air pollution
control measures are effective and in compliance with
regulations.

Estimating Emissions of Air Pollutants

Purpose: The emission rate of air pollutants must be

determined for formulating emission control strategies,
developing applicable permit and control programs, and
identifying the possible effects of sources and mitigation
strategies.

Techniques:

1. Direct Measurement:
o Application: Used in industries where
emissions are continuously monitored,
such as chemical manufacturing and
power generation.
o How it Works: Taken from actual or similar
sources, direct measurement involves
using instruments to measure emissions
directly from a source. However, this
approach may be expensive and may
require continuous emission monitoring for
some processes.
2. Mass Balance Approach:
o Application: Applied in situations where
direct measurement is not feasible.
o How it Works: This method involves
calculating emissions based on inventory
data or process data. However, it may be
limited by a lack of available data from
similar processes or changes in inventory.

Emission Factors: A comprehensive set of emission

factors is used to relate the quantity of pollutants released
to the atmosphere based on an activity associated with the
release of that pollutant. These factors are used to
estimate pollutant emissions when direct measurement or
mass balance approaches are not practical.

Sample Problem

Problem: Coffee Mountain Roasting Company roasted 26

million pounds of coffee beans in 2020. Determine the
following emission if all 26 million pounds were
continuously roasted. Estimate the emissions without and
with a thermal oxidizer with 80% efficiency.

Emission Factor (EF): The emission factor for filterable

particulate matter (PM) is 0.66 pounds of PM per ton of
coffee roasted.