|
Press
Releases - 1998
Roadside
API stays "very high"
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Thursday) recorded a roadside
Air Pollution Index (API) of 113 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
This
is the fourth 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
low 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, probably brought by the north-easterly monsoon," he
said.
The Mong
Kok roadside station recorded an API of 96 while the Central
roadside station has been closed down for scheduled renovation
works.
For the
general stations, the APIs today ranged from 63 to 73.
The API
forecast for tomorrow (Friday) is 65 to 80 for the general
stations, and 90 to 110 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/Thursday,
November 12, 1998
|
