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Written by: Golden Chess
2020-01-20 23:35
Last updated: 2020-01-20 23:41The air quality of Hong Kong has always been criticized. The Environmental Protection Department today (20th) announced the air quality of Hong Kong last year. The concentration of ozone in the air pollutants reached a new 21-year high. According to the agency's data, the ozone concentrations at general monitoring stations and roadside monitoring stations last year reached 60 micrograms per cubic meter and 32 micrograms, respectively, both of which were record highs. In addition, the annual average concentration of nitrogen dioxide roadside monitoring stations is 80 micrograms per cubic meter, which doubles the air quality target.
Air quality is closely linked to health. (Profile picture / Photo by Lin Ruoqin)
EPA: Ozone is a complex air pollution problem
The Environmental Protection Department said that the overall air quality in Hong Kong has shown a marked improvement trend. From last year to 1999, the respirable suspended particulates (PM10), fine suspended particulates (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide in the air (SO2) ranges from 34% to 80% from the highest level, and roadside concentrations have also decreased by 34% to 82%.
Although overall air quality has improved, ozone concentrations have continued to rise. Last year, the ozone concentration at general monitoring stations and roadside monitoring stations increased by 15% and 33% respectively compared with 2018, and reached a new high in 1999. The EPD explained that ozone is a complex air pollution problem and a regional problem. Ozone is not directly emitted from pollution sources, but is formed by photochemical reactions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the air under sunlight.
The air quality of Hong Kong has always been criticized. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency said that the concentration of ozone in air pollutants reached a new 21-year high. (Profile picture / Photo by Lu Yiming)
According to the Department, in addition to the increase in ozone concentration in Hong Kong in recent years, in addition to high regional background ozone levels, and because local vehicles have reduced nitrogen oxide emissions, nitric oxide has reduced the chemical reaction with ozone, which has reduced the consumption of ozone, which has led to more Ozone is present in the air. The agency added that due to complex photochemical reasons, the smog problem and the initial improvement of nitrogen oxides will often highlight the ozone problem. When the emission reduction work continues for a period of time, the ozone concentration will begin to decrease.
In addition, although roadside NO2 has fallen sharply, it is still at a high level. The main source of emissions is commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and taxis. Last year, the general NO2 concentration at the monitoring station was 38 micrograms per cubic meter, which was close to the concentration limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter. The roadside monitoring station even exceeded the standard, reaching 80 micrograms per cubic meter.
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According to the agency, to improve ozone levels, the focus of work is regional cooperation. Guangdong and Hong Kong have launched a Study on Regional Air Pollutant Emission Reduction Targets and Concentration Levels After 2020. The governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau will also jointly conduct a three-year "Study on the Characteristics of Photochemical Ozone Pollution and Regional and Interregional Transmission in the Greater Bay Area" to understand the causes of ozone in the Greater Bay Area. The government also plans to set up lidars to measure the ozone and particle concentrations in high altitudes and the vertical and three-dimensional distribution of meteorological data in real time.
In addition, the agency stated that it will continue to implement a number of new measures to reduce emissions from local pollution sources, including reducing vehicle emissions, promoting the use of electric vehicles, and reducing ship emissions.
Air Quality Air Pollution Environmental Protection Agency