The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is taking a proactive step in protecting public health by formulating air quality guideline values for dioxins and furans, considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs) prevalent in the environment, including air, soil, and water, posing risks to both human’s health and wildlife.

EMB Director Jacqueline Caancan emphasizes the urgency of addressing dioxins and furans as air pollutants due to their significant health implications, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and premature mortality. “It is imperative to establish air quality guideline values for dioxins and furans in the Philippines to protect public health,” she said.

Setting air quality guidelines is crucial in minimizing harmful exposure to these hazardous pollutants, thereby reducing the incidence of pollution-related illnesses.

Additionally, it forms the foundation of a comprehensive air quality management strategy that is vital for safeguarding public health and ensuring regulatory compliance among industries in the Philippines.

Dioxins and furans, though not intentionally produced, are by-products of various industrial processes, including chemical manufacturing and waste incineration, as well as natural phenomena like forest fires.

Efforts to control emissions, monitor environmental levels, and raise public awareness are essential components of effective management and mitigation strategies.

In line with the Hazardous Air Pollutant Project, a collaboration between the EMB and the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UP-IESM), the results of monitoring and analysis of dioxins and furans will undergo rigorous scientific assessment and stakeholder consultation to formulate ambient air quality guidelines.

Ambient air and stack sampling of dioxins and furans, particularly in areas near open burning activities, industrial facilities and waste treatment facilities, is conducted using USEPA Method TO-09A and Method 23, respectively. These methods were established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to ensure precise data collection and analysis for effective environmental monitoring and regulatory purposes.

The EMB remains committed to its mandate of protecting public health and the environment through proactive measures and collaborative efforts with stakeholders.

“Establishing air quality guidelines for dioxins and furans underscores the agency’s dedication to ensuring a healthier and safer environment for all Filipinos,” Caancan concluded.

###