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The Air Pollution Index reached the "very high" band at all the three roadside stations starting yesterday, with nitrogen dioxide being the culprit pollutant, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (August 31).
At 9am today, the API at the Central and Causeway Bay roadside stations were respectively 136 and 103.
The spokesman said under the influence of the subsiding air of tropical storm "Lion Rock", the weather has been fine and the wind has been light in the region over the last few days. The intense sunshine and high temperature enhanced photochemical smog activities and formation of ozone during the daytime, resulting in high background pollution in the region.
"The very high API readings at roadside were due to the trapping of local pollutants from motor vehicles under the poor dispersion in urban areas, coupled with high regional background air pollution.
"According to the Hong Kong Observatory, tropical storm 'Lion Rock' is expected to linger around the northeastern part of the South China Sea in the next couple of days. The weather will continue to be fine and calm in the coming few days due to subsiding air from the tropical storm. The fine weather and light wind will enhance the photochemical activity in the region in the daytime. We expect that the background pollution will still be higher than usual and that the dispersion in urban areas will remain poor. The roadside and general API is expected to remain higher than normal in the next couple of days," added the spokesman.
The spokesman advised that with an API in the very high range, people with heart or respiratory illnesses and the elderly and children should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities, and avoid prolonged stay in streets with heavy traffic.
The Education Bureau urged all schools to watch out for any changes in API in the next few days and to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities for all students to protect their health.
Members of the public can check the current API readings from the EPD's website ( www.epd-asg.gov.hk/eindex.php ) or by calling the hotline 2827 8541.
Ends/Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:41
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