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Press
Release
Hydrocarbon
levels in taxis would not pose health threat
In response
to media enquiries on a study by the Hong Kong Polytechnic
University on air quality within taxi cabins, a spokesman
for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said today
(June 15) that the concentrations of hydrocarbons found in
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and diesel taxis would not pose
a health threat to the general public.
The spokesman
said: "We have discussed with Hong Kong Polytechnic University
about their initial findings.
"The
concentrations measured would not cause a health threat to
passengers;"
"The
measurements also fully complied with the Labour Department's
occupational standards set for protection of workers.
"Hence
drivers of these taxis are not exposed to excessive risk."
Although
the study found that the concentrations of some hydrocarbons
measured in LPG taxis were higher than those in diesel taxis,
their levels were well within the occupational standards.
For benzene,
which is a human carcinogen, the concentrations in LPG taxis
were found lower than diesel taxis and again was well within
the occupational standards.
Therefore,
there is no evidence that the risk of LPG taxis is higher
than diesel taxis.
Hong
Kong Polytechnic University has advised that the research
is an initial one and has not studied the sources of these
hydrocarbons and other details such as whether the concentrations
are transient.
The spokesman
said: "Although LPG taxis are new to Hong Kong, LPG vehicles
have been in use for more than 40 years overseas.
"LPG
vehicles are proven technologies and widely accepted as cleaner
alternatives to diesel vehicles."
For examples,
there are one million LPG vehicles in Italy and more than
400 000 in the Netherlands. Nearly all taxis in Tokyo are
running on LPG.
The spokesman
noted that thorough examinations had been conducted by the
Government before introducing LPG taxis.
"Before
LPG taxis were introduced into Hong Kong, a government delegation
has visited Europe and Japan to learn the technology and meet
with their environmental protection, transport and safety
departments to discuss issues concerning LPG vehicles.
"Hydrocarbon
emissions from LPG vehicles are much lower than diesel vehicles.
This was confirmed during the one-year trial conducted by
the Government on LPG taxis in 1997 and 1998.
"Hydrocarbon
emissions from LPG vehicles are typically 50 to 80 per cent
lower than diesel vehicles," he noted.
As the
LPG fuel system is a pressurized close system, there is no
evaporative emissions.
One possible
source for the higher hydrocarbons inside LPG taxis is emissions
from new furnishings because most LPG vehicles are brand new.
Such emissions are transient and should not cause long-term
health effects.
End/Friday,
June 15, 2001
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