Author Archive

Did you know that, unless you are a REGISTERED spotter, the EPD has no legal obligation to investigate your sighting of a smoky vehicle? Read more about the program on our website. On Saturday, April 24th, the EPD will hold a special training session for members and friends of CAN. We encourage you to...
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Anthony Hedley has served for more than 22 years as Chair Professor of Community Medicine in the University of Hong Kong and honorary consultant to the Department of Health and Hospital Authority. He is now retiring from Hong Kong. While we are very sad to see him leave, Civic Exchange and Clean Air Network...
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A new study just published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology found that, “neonatal and adult exposure to diesel exhaust damages the central nervous system (CNS) and induces behavioral alteration… The mice whose mothers had breathed the fumes showed significantly less spontaneous motor activity and that this inactivity was associated with alterations in brain metabolism...
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The following is an explanation from Professors Hak kan Lai, Chit-ming Wong and Anthony Hedley from Hong Kong University about why we should be comparing our daily air pollution levels, which are extremely high, to the ANNUAL, rather than short-term guidelines for each of the 4 pollutants studied by the World Health Organization. If...
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The HKSAR experienced the worst pollution in its history today. Many of the Government’s air quality monitors were not able to measure the pollution as particulate levels exceeded by more than 14 times the levels recommended by the WHO. The New York Times provided a good overview of the situation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/science/earth/23hong.html
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How bad is it out there? The current levels are the highest ever recorded since the EPD began monitoring air quality in 1995. Particulate matter (PM) today has been around 700 micrograms per cubic meter, 14x the levels recommended under the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs). Even by the HK Government’s very lax, outdated...
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COPY & PASTE FROM HKUST’S PROFESSOR ALEXIS LAU: Up to about 4pm yesterday, the pollution was dominated by NO2 and was locally generated.  I was asked by two newspapers yesterday whether the pollution was sandstorm related and I said, no, because the dominating pollutant was NO2. However, the sandstorm came over HK at about...
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I refer to the report (“Higher fees eyed to drive polluting trucks off road”, March 11). The Clean Air Network wholeheartedly agrees with the Environmental Protection Department’s proposal to penalise polluters through increased licence fees, and it is mobilising the public to encourage legislators to support such “sticks”. However, it is obvious that the...
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This morning, RTHK asked Joanne Ooi, CAN’s CEO, and Professor Simon Ng, to describe the goals of CAN’s educational and sign-up campaign.
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On Wednesday, 10 March, CAN made a deputation stating its position on the Government’s proposed $540 million subsidy to encourage replacement of Euro II vehicles. Note that this scheme will follow on the heels of a subsidy for Euro I and pre-Euro vehicle owners, still in effect, which will expire on 31 March. The...
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