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Very
high roadside API to prevail
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Thursday) recorded a roadside
Air Pollution Index (API) of 105 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
Another roadside station at Central recorded an API of 104
and the one at Mong Kok recorded 102.
For the
general ambient stations, the APIs ranged from 55 to 97.
"People
with heart or respiratory illnesses should avoid prolonged
stay in roads and streets with heavy traffic. If it is necessary
to stay in such places, they should reduce physical exertion
as far as possible," Principal Environmental Protection
Officer, Mr Leung Pak-ming said.
"Nitrogen
dioxide in vehicle emissions, particularly from diesel vehicles,
is not dispersing sufficiently under the very still wind conditions.
Air pollution at the urban roadside with very heavy traffic
and surrounded by high-rise buildings has thus increased and
reached the 'very high' band," he added.
The roadside
APIs were expected to persist tomorrow (Friday). The forecast
for tomorrow is 90 to 105 for the roadside and 55 to 90 for
the general air quality stations.
Members
of the public can check the API readings for different locations
on 2827 8541 or from EPD's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/.
End/Thursday,
February 11, 1999
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