Hong Kong's air pollution eclipses record high
March 23, 2010, Tuesday
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HONG Kong's harbor was cloaked in thick smog yesterday as air pollution soared to record levels.
The special administrative region's environmental protection department said air pollution indices soared to levels of about 500, smashing the record of 202 recorded in July 2008. A reading above 51 is considered high.
Sandstorms from northern China were mostly blamed.
Experts are studying the contents of the latest smog but a public health academic warned it came after a week of serious air pollution.
"We don't know what this air is made of but it is possible that it is not as toxic as the air that is coming out of the tailpipes of old trucks in Hong Kong or old power station chimneys, or ship funnels going into the harbor and the port," said Anthony Hedley, chair professor of the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's patchy air quality has been a controversial issue in recent years, tarnishing the city's reputation as a financial hub. It has also affected the health of many of its citizens.
According to the Hedley Environmental Index, which monitors and publishes in real time the economic costs of Hong Kong's air pollution, the bad air would have resulted in 175 premature deaths and 1.29 million visits to the doctor so far this year.
The haze may clear up in coming days, according to the city's weather observatory, with the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament due to kick off on Friday.
About 120,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, a major tourism draw.
Hong Kong aims to reduce its energy intensity by at least 25 percent by 2030.
The special administrative region's environmental protection department said air pollution indices soared to levels of about 500, smashing the record of 202 recorded in July 2008. A reading above 51 is considered high.
Sandstorms from northern China were mostly blamed.
Experts are studying the contents of the latest smog but a public health academic warned it came after a week of serious air pollution.
"We don't know what this air is made of but it is possible that it is not as toxic as the air that is coming out of the tailpipes of old trucks in Hong Kong or old power station chimneys, or ship funnels going into the harbor and the port," said Anthony Hedley, chair professor of the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's patchy air quality has been a controversial issue in recent years, tarnishing the city's reputation as a financial hub. It has also affected the health of many of its citizens.
According to the Hedley Environmental Index, which monitors and publishes in real time the economic costs of Hong Kong's air pollution, the bad air would have resulted in 175 premature deaths and 1.29 million visits to the doctor so far this year.
The haze may clear up in coming days, according to the city's weather observatory, with the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament due to kick off on Friday.
About 120,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, a major tourism draw.
Hong Kong aims to reduce its energy intensity by at least 25 percent by 2030.
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