Elemental composition of roadside PM2.5 at De La Salle University-Manila and Salikneta Farm analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray system

• Main Author: Perez, Alden Luis E.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Particulate matter—Philippines—Manila—Analysis; Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment; Environmental Monitoring
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18609
• Institution: De La Salle University

Manila is one of the most polluted areas in the Philippines, as a country that wants to progress having clean air is important. Air pollution brings harm and discomfort to humans and other living organisms, and it can also damage the natural environment. It is caused by the introduction of air pollutants into the atmosphere. Particulate Matter (PM) are of the major forms of pollutants produced by human activity. Using a personal air cascade impactor, fine particles were collected near De La Salle University-Manila and from Salikneta Farm in Bulacan. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer, the elemental composition of air samples was determined. A comparison of the elemental composition of fine particulate matters at different days and at certain times of a day was done. Fine particulate matters from the roadside area near the Ocampo-Taft Avenue intersection have been found to consist of C, 0, Na, Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe. All of the elements that were analyzed were present depending on the amount of vehicles in the area and whether there are any constructions in the area. All the samples collected for all the days were found to have the highest% elemental concentration for Carbon, Oxygen and Silicon. Comparing the Manila air samples collected with the farm area air samples, it was shown that there is a significantly higher amount of Carbon particles present compared to the Manila samples. Comparing all the sampling periods for each element showed that Carbon has the lowest amount during the Saturday noon sampling period and highest during the Monday noon sampling period, Oxygen has the lowest amount during the Monday morning sampling period and highest during the Thursday noon sampling period, Silicon has the lowest amount during the Monday noon sampling period and highest during the Thursday morning and Thursday noon sampling periods and Sulfur has the lowest amount during the Saturday morning and Sunday evening and highest during the Tuesday noon sampling period. These findings verify that roadside air contains fine particulate matters which are known to cause adverse health effects like respiratory infections because of their aerodynamic diameter enable them to pass through the nasal passages of the respiratory system and later develop complications.