|
Press
Releases - 1998
High
API values recorded for urban and industrial areas
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Friday) advised people suffering
from asthma, lung or heart illnesses to minimise laborious
outdoor activities due to poor air quality.
The department
issued the advice at 7 am this morning after making a forecast
that today's air quality would be at the "unhealthy" range.
The air pollution index (API) values recorded for the day
were 117 and 113, for the urban area and industrial area respectively.
Urban
area includes Central/Western, Wan Chai, Eastern, Kowloon
City, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Yau Tsim Mong districts
while industrial area includes Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen
Wan districts.
"An index
exceeding 100 indicates the air quality is generally unhealthy.
People suffering from asthma, lung or heart illnesses may
be adversely affected, and are advised to minimise physical
exercise, especially energetic or laborious outdoor activities,"
the Principal Environmental Protection Officer (Air Services),
Mr Pang Sik-wing, said.
"The
poor air quality today is caused by nitrogen dioxide. It comes
mainly from motor vehicles, in particular the diesel vehicles
in our urban areas. A persisting low wind condition since
last night has caused the pollution to accumulate over our
territory although the situation has started to improve as
the wind started to build up gradually since noon time," Mr
Pang added.
The index
for new development area (including Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sha
Tin, Tai Po, Islands, Southern, Sai Kung and North districts)
has also reached 92.
The API
forecast for the territory tomorrow (Friday) is 80 for the
urban area, 85 for the industrial area, and 75 for the new
development area.
Members
of the public can check the API readings on 2827 8541.
End/Friday,
April 17, 1998
|
