Thinking twice before we breathe

The culprits are in the air and we use a mask to fight a two-way invisible battle: a microscopic virus and tiny particles from the vog. The virus here is COVID, which continues to break record number of infections, while the vog is from the volcanic smog of Taal Volcano, swept by the wind northward, making the air of Metro Manila less breathable. Never has there been a time in our modern history when breathing becomes a worrisome “chore.”

Last weekend, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of Taal Volcano’s emission of an average 15,416 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) per day. The rising trend in volcanic SO2 degassing since Aug. 13, 2021 continued to produce the vog.

The air quality index (AQI) recorded in Metro Manila was mostly in the “reds” – hitting as high as 159 last Sunday. An AQI from 151 to 200, categorized as “unhealthy,” is considered unsafe and anyone vulnerable could experience negative health effects. Those with respiratory problems must strictly stay indoors at all times.