CAN Reacts to EPD’s Announcement of Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network Results for 2009
Clean Air Network reacts to the Government’s announcement of Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network results for 2009, “There is absolutely NO reason to rejoice over improvements in PRD ambient air quality since Hong Kong’s roadside pollution continues to worsen”
Hong Kong, 1 May 2010
Although this new report about PRD pollutant concentrations shows drops for 3 pollutants (SO2, NO2 and PM) from 2006 to 2009, these drops are based on measurements from ambient pollutant monitors, NOT roadside monitors. It is crucial to that ROADSIDE POLLUTANT CONCENTRATIONS are critical when assessing harm to human health. What matters is the level of pollution to which people are actually exposed to at street level. The lowest pollution monitor included in the sampling network was 5 meters above the ground, far above pedestrian height, with all other monitoring stations at 9 meters or higher.
In fact, Hong Kong NO2 ROADSIDE concentrations increased SIGNIFICANTLY during the period 2006-2009, with average annual pollutant concentrations at 96. 97. 98 and 111 micrograms per cubic meter during 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, respectively. Hong Kong’s annual average levels of ROADSIDE PM10 during 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 were 75, 73, 68, and 61. The average annual levels recommended by the World Health Organization are 40 micrograms per cubic meter for NO2 and 20 for PM. Thus, in 2009, Hong Kong’s levels of roadside NO2 and PM were still 2.8x and 3x the recommended WHO guidelines. Moreover, note that, last October, the monthly roadside average hit 143, the highest monthly average in the past 10 years. Comparable highest monthly averages of earlier years clearly indicate an increasing trend:
2008 Dec: 132
2007 Dec: 121
2006 Dec: 120
2005 Dec: 117
Thus, it would be grossly disingenuous and misleading to call today’s announcement by the Government ANY sort of victory. Every day, the lives of the Hong Kong people are put at serious risk because of the Government’s failure to take tougher action on dangerous roadside emissions from old diesel trucks and buses.
This week is emblematic of our roadside pollution problem. Beginning on Tuesday, a dangerous buildup of PM and NO2 began, resulting in API readings over 100 at all three stations, which lasted until this afternoon, when the rain provided relief.
High levels of roadside pollution:
result in arterial changes after 20 minutes;
increase heart rate after 2 hours;
increase the probability of a stroke or heart attack;
prolonged exposure can result in a much higher chance of contracting pneumonia for children and seniors;
prolonged exposure of pregnant women can result in premature birth, lower birth weight and lower IQ.
Related Posts
- Improvements in Air Quality in Regional Report Not a Cause for Celebration
- Frustrated by lack of progress on Air Quality Objectives, Clean Air Network launches send-up of Tsang to remind him of his AQO promise
- Govt’s focus on monitoring general, instead of roadside, air quality shows that priorities are upside down
- Government kicks off public consultation period with announcement of proposed new Air Quality Objectives
- Govt’s focus on monitoring general, instead of roadside, air quality shows that priorities are upside down
