Press
Releases - 1998
Roadside
API remained "very high"
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (Wednesday) recorded a roadside
Air Pollution Index (API) of 107 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
This
is the third consecutive day that the API at the station has
exceeded 100 and hit the "very high air pollution" band.
The Causeway
Bay station represents the roadside in busy commercial areas
with heavy traffic and surrounded by high-rise buildings.
"Persons
with heart or respiratory illnesses should reduce physical
exertion or avoid staying near roads with heavy traffic,"
the Principal Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Leung Pak-ming
said.
"The
light wind condition at the Causeway Bay station has caused
the nitrogen dioxide to accumulate. Nitrogen dioxide has come
from the oxidation of nitric oxide emitted from motor vehicles
by ozone which has been in more abundance than usual in the
region," he said.
The Mong
Kok roadside station recorded an API of 94 while the Central
roadside station has been closed down for scheduled renovation
works. For the general stations, the APIs today ranged from
71 to 77.
The API
forecast for tomorrow (Thursday) is 70 to 85 for the general
stations, and 90 to 105 for the roadside.
Members
of the public can check the API readings on 2827 8541 or from
EPD's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/.
End/Wednesday,
November 11, 1998
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