|
Very
high API to persist
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Wednesday) recorded a roadside
Air Pollution Index (API) of 129 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
Another roadside station at Central recorded an API of 91
and the one at Mongkok recorded 71.
For the
general stations, the APIs ranged from 52 to 81.
"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," Acting
Principal Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Yeung Mo-man,
said.
"If
it is necessary to stay in such places, they should reduce
physical exertion as far as possible," he said.
However,
Mr Yeung said there was no need for the general public to
take any special measures.
"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 escalated and
reached the 'very high' band," he said.
Mr Yeung
said the situation was expected to persist tomorrow (Thursday).
The API
forecast for tomorrow is 55 to 70 for the general air quality
stations and 70 to 105 for the roadside 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/Wednesday,
February 24, 1999
|
