Butuan haze eases, but air remains unhealthy for sensitive groups

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Haze in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, slightly eased Sunday morning as particulate matter (PM) levels declined, but air quality remained unhealthy for sensitive groups, the city government said.

Based on the 8 a.m. air quality assessment, the city’s two monitoring stations recorded PM2.5 levels within the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category.

PM2.5 refers to tiny airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These particles are small enough to enter deep into the lungs and may affect health, especially among people who are more vulnerable to air pollution.

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The Butuan City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) Station in Doongan recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 44.5 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/Ncm), while the Caraga State University (CSU) main campus monitoring station recorded 44.2 µg/Ncm.

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The latest readings showed a slight improvement from the previous assessment on Sept. 19 at 5 p.m., when air quality at both monitoring stations was classified as “Very Unhealthy.”

At that time, the ENRO Station recorded 49.7 µg/Ncm, while the CSU Main Campus Station recorded 45.8 µg/Ncm.

The decline in PM2.5 levels means the amount of fine pollution particles in the air decreased.

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However, the improvement was not enough to return air quality to normal levels, as sensitive groups may still experience health effects from continued exposure.

The city government said people considered more vulnerable to air pollution include children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with asthma, heart disease, or lung conditions.

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Residents belonging to these groups were advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure and avoid strenuous physical activities while haze conditions persist.

Those who need to go outdoors were encouraged to consider using N95 or KN95 masks, which can help reduce exposure to fine airborne particles.

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The public was also advised to keep windows and doors closed when haze becomes heavy or when smoke odors are noticeable, and to continue monitoring official air quality updates since conditions may change within hours. /mcm