Indicators of Air and Water Quality

The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749)
- Is a comprehensive air quality management policy and programme which aims
to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
- Outlines the government's measures to reduce air pollution and incorporate
environmental protection into its development plans.

Physical and Chemical Indicators of Air Quality

- Air Quality Index is an index for measuring and reporting daily air quality.

1. Ground Level Ozone

- Is a highly irritating gas that is produced when Nitrogen Oxide and volatile
Organic Compound react in sunlight and stagnant air.
2. Particulate Pollution
- A particulate pollutant is a microscopic or microscopic liquid and solid
particles present in the form of the suspension in the air. Particulate matter
can be released from different types of human activities such as vehicle
emissions, smoke particles, dust particles, and ash from industries.
3. Carbon Monoxide
- Toxic air pollutants that is produced in the combustion of gasoline, natural
gas, oil, coal, and wood.
4. Lichen and Bryophytes
- Are biological indicators of air quality

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275)
- Aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land based
sources (industries and commercial establishment, agriculture and community /
household activities)

The Water Quality Indicator

- Water quality index conveys an overall quality of water at a certain location and
time based on several water quality parameters.
1. Turbidity
- Measurement of water clarity determined by suspended solids and
dissolved colored material.
2. pH
- Refers to the measure of how acidic or basic water is. A pH of less than 7
indicates acidity and a pH of more than 7 indicates a base.
3. Fecal coliform bacteria
- Indicate the presence of sewage contamination nation from human and
animal waste.
4. Dissolved Oxygen
- Measure of gaseous oxygen dissolved in water
5. Temperature
- Is the measure of the average movement of particles in matter. Rapid
temperature change affect aquatic organisms
6. Heavy Metal
- Are defined as metallic elements that have a relative high density
compared to water
7. Salinity
- Refers to the absorption of salt in water