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Very
high air pollution index to prevail
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Friday) recorded a roadside Air
Pollution Index (API) of 104 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
Another roadside station at Central recorded an API of 100
and the one at Mong Kok recorded 91.
For the
general ambient stations, the APIs ranged from 80 to 94.
"When
the roadside API exceeds 100 and reaches the 'very high' band,
people with heart or respiratory illnesses should avoid prolonged
stay in roads and streets with heavy traffic," Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Leung Pak-ming said.
"If
it is necessary to stay in such places, they should reduce
physical exertion as far as possible.
"Nitrogen
dioxide in vehicle emissions, particularly that from diesel
vehicles, is not dispersing sufficiently at the urban roadside
with very heavy traffic and surrounded by high-rise buildings.
Air pollution has thus escalated and reached the 'very high'
band," he said.
Mr Leung
said the situation was expected to persist tomorrow (Saturday).
"The
API forecast for tomorrow is 75 to 90 for the general air
quality stations and 90 to 105 for the roadside air quality
stations."
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/Friday,
January 8, 1999
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