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posted on 16 Feb 2010
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Over the years, we have seen headlines ranking Asian cities according to which has the dirtiest air or citing that Asia has most of the World's Top 10 Cities with Polluted Air.
Below are some links of famous studies that provide similar rankings:
1. Blacksmith Institute, a US based independent think tank, publishes annually a list of World's Most Polluted Places. The cities are selected worlwide based on nominations and a basic hazard assessment logic.
http://www.worstpolluted.org/about-the-list-2007.html
2. American Lung Association, ranks American cities by the levels of ozone and particle pollution depending on year-round and short-term monitoring results.
http://www.stateoftheair.org/2009/city-rankings/
Let us know what you think:
a). Should cities be ranked, yes or no?
b). What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a ranking?
c). What methodology should be used to ensure objectivity?
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827 days ago
I think cities should be ranked so that we can gauge how much effort is needed in improving the air quality in those areas. Ranking should be done regularly to monitor if changes/new policies have be enforced to provide solution to this problem. It is also a way to check whether successes or failures in the implementation of various projects relating to air quality in some cities can be replicated or avoided in other areas/cities.
Disadvantage: The people (policymakers, leaders, constituents) in the cities that will rank low might feel discriminated against or think that their image is tarnished. Other institutions, government, agencies might use the report as basis in their decisions in investing on that city. Tourism-wise, the effect of the report might deter the influx of tourists or other possible income-generating aspect of the city.
I really do not know what methods- both qualitative and quantitative methods might be needed to substantiate the report/research. All factors affecting the issue should be considered.
826 days ago
@kat c You made some very good points there. I think then that such a ranking should also be coupled with some guidance or recommendations on which areas and how the cities can improve.
826 days ago
So what is the rank of Manila or Quezon City or even the Philippines? How can we make ranking? We dont have a good, real time ambient air quality monitoring stations. If there is any, only few u may count it by your hand and that is not enough to cover the whole Philippines. There is suppose to be 10 real time monitoring station from Metroair project. The project was ended but sad coz the stations is not working. tsk..tsk.. loss of money.
825 days ago
@adajetyer - In 2006, we benchmarked the air quality management capacity of 20 cities in Asia which included Metro Manila. At that time, it was possible with the 10 stations still up and working well. We clustered the cities according to excellent, good, moderate, limited and minimal AQM capacity. Metro Manila belonged to the moderate category together with other cities such as Jakarta. I think there are efforts now to revive the stations in Metro Manila.
825 days ago
Right now the 10 monitoring stations in Metro Manila is not a real time. It is a manual sampling method and have limited parameters, capable only for TSP. Imagine until now our stations are for TSP only. It was so ashamed to other neighboring Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia etc. coz they are monitoring PM10 & 2.5.
The other 10 real time monitoring stations that i mentioned previously are from the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program (MMAQISD). It was designed to monitor air quality within Metro Manila Airshed, 6 stations in Metro Manila, 1 station in Region 3, and 3 stations in Region 4. Due to the conflicts between the international and local contractors, the stations are left behind without completing the installation of the necessary equipment. Now the EMB is trying hard to revive it but due to limited resources it will take time. Running and maintaining these stations needs a lot of money and almost always the government has no money to spend for this. I hope and i pray that these stations will work soon.
Sorry May, i just want only to give you an update nothing else, what was really happening.
825 days ago
It is the same story in Jakarta when I tried to find out the pollution level from the person in charge of monitoring it. I was told that most of the monitoring device are not working and they do not have the funds to revive it
762 days ago
While it is true that there have been hits and misses, I think it is important to remember that the improvement of the air quality monitoring network is an ongoing process. As long as we are able to take note of the mistakes and prevent them in the future, we can move towards our goal of cleaner air in our cities.
Regarding air quality monitoring in Metro Manila, we were informed by EMB-NCR during a meeting last March that they have started monitoring PM10 levels in three monitoring stations last January (2010) using high vol. samplers.. At least we are moving forward in developing our monitoring system in Metro Manila.
762 days ago
May - I just wonder where you got the reports or data for your 2006 Air Quality benchmark for Metro Manila? Your comment "10 stations still up and working well." didn't fit well to the actual facts. The fact is these 10 stations never worked at all for its purpose and cannot be working well at that time in 2006. I share deeply with the frustrations of adajetyer. Pleae note that the money spent on those 10 stations was loaned from ADB with the current taxpayers' money still paying for it.
762 days ago
The benchmarking study, published in 2006, included Metro Manila as one of twenty cities. The information in that study covered information up to late 2005.
From what we understand, 9 of the stations were already fully operational by end 2004 (refer to National Air Quality Status Report 2003-2004 of DENR) and 10 stations were completed in 2005 until they ceased operation in 2006.
The same NAQSR report also provided air quality data from the Metro Manila Airshed stations.
825 days ago
Without proper monitoring its next to impossible to determine air quality, modelling is only useful with good quality data.
However, most urban cities will experience air pollution due primarily to fine particulates and perhaps NOx. There is some great information on the Hong Kong EPD website, concerning their experience and what influences their air quality.
825 days ago
I agreed with kat c that a low ranking may tarnish the image of a country, its tourism industries and foreign investment opportunities. On the other hand, without proper monitoring, pollution can badly affect the health of the population. I am sure a responsible government wants to ensure the good health and well being of its people and will subscribe to it. The economic cost of an unhealthy population may cost more in the long term in providing medical care coupled with low productivity
825 days ago
To rank cities may not be necessary, since they have different conditions from one to another. Comparing air quality Manila and Jakarta may have benefits, or it may not.
For some reasons, ranking can be used to show achievement. But it is not really the real achievement.
The most important thing is, how to improve air quality of the cities. We have to work in this subject.
By the way, is there any "real time monitoring system" for urban air quality?.
825 days ago
"By the way, is there any "real time monitoring system" for urban air quality?."
I'm not too sure what you mean by this question as most definately these are available and are compact enough for urban use.
Commercial plug below, but this will give you some idea of what is available.
http://www.ecotech.com/applications/roadside-monitoring
754 days ago
World Bank recently released a publication relating to energy in the Southeast Asian region. It included a figure of World's Polluted Cities.
It did not explain which pollutant is the basis. Also, I checked the references. There was no listing of WHO, 2006.
722 days ago
I think Myanmar should participate in Air Quality Management.
How do you think about?
722 days ago
I worked in Air Pollution Project supported by IAEA. But I resigned from my job.I think Myanmar has no reliable data in air quality monitoring.
How do you think about? Yangon is a Asian City.
I think we should do Air Quality Monitoring System.
716 days ago
I think cities should be ranked so that we can gauge how much effort is needed in improving the air quality in those areas ,because economic cost of an unhealthy population may cost more in the long term in providing medical care and due to low productivity. Government/Policy Makers,institutions, agencies might use the report as basis in their decisions in investing on that city.
In ranking the cities ,according to the quality of air,parameters should be considered
712 days ago
For those interested in assessment tools for cities in relation to how they manage their air quality and GHG emissions, a related discussion is starting on the CLEAN AIR SCORECARD has recently been started.