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A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (August 24) that the Air Pollution Index (API) exceeded 100 today at some general (ambient) and roadside air quality monitoring stations.
At 3pm today the APIs at Central/Western, Tung Chung and Yuen Long general stations stood at 106, 119 and 109 respectively due to elevated ozone concentrations, while the APIs at Central, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay roadside stations were 178, 152 and 167 respectively due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide.
The spokesman said that under the influence of the subsiding airstream associated with tropical cyclone Tembin, the weather has been mainly fine and very hot in the Guangdong area since Thursday (August 23) with light to moderate winds.
The intense sunshine and high temperature have enhanced photochemical smog activities, resulting in elevated ambient ozone levels in the region, which has also contributed to higher nitrogen dioxide concentrations at the roadside. In addition, the light to moderate winds have led to the trapping of pollutants from motor vehicles in our urban areas.
"According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the weather in the next two days will continue to be hot with bright periods, and the winds will be north to northwesterly. The bright and hot weather will enhance the formation of ozone in the region during the daytime, leading to the API at general stations being higher than normal in the afternoon. The roadside API is also expected to stay higher than normal because of poor dispersion of air pollutants and a high regional background air pollution level," the spokesman added.
The spokesman said that with an API at or above the "Very High" level, people with heart or respiratory illness, the elderly and children should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities, and avoid prolonged periods in streets with heavy traffic.
The Education Bureau urged all schools to watch out for any changes in the API in the next couple of days and to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities for all students to protect their health.
The Labour Department urged employers to assess the risks of outdoor work. Employees who feel unwell should inform their supervisors.
Members of the public can check the current API readings on the EPD website (www.epd-asg.gov.hk/eindex.html) or by calling the hotline 2827 8541.
Ends/Friday, August 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:55
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