Among the negative effects of inhaling these pollutants are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, as well as asthma and heart attacks, Limpin noted. ADVERTISEMENTAmong these harmful airborne pollutants are suspended particulate matter (SPM), including PM 2.5 that can travel deep into the respiratory tract and the lungs, carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gases, heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. “Lason sa baga ang binubuga ng paputok (firecrackers spew fumes that poison the lungs). Exposure to these pollutants can trigger or worsen respiratory problems, including allergic or chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia, rhinitis, and sinusitis,” Limpin warned. “In spite of their hazardous makeup, discards from firecrackers and fireworks used during the New Year’s Eve revelry are disposed of as general waste and buried in dumps and landfills,” he lamented.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 25, 2019 00:33 UTC