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Very
high roadside API to persist
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Friday) recorded a roadside Air
Pollution Index (API) of 127 at the Causeway Bay air quality
monitoring station.
Another roadside station at Central recorded an API of 102
and the one at Mong Kok recorded 63.
For the
general ambient stations, the APIs ranged from 51 to 82.
"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 that from diesel
vehicles, is not dispersing sufficiently. 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.
Very high
roadside APIs were expected to persist. The forecast for tomorrow
(Saturday) is 70 to 105 for the roadside and 55 to 85 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/Friday,
March 5, 1999
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