RSOE EDIS - Situation Update No. 1 : China - Enviroment Pollution

RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service Budapest, Hungary RSOE EDIS ALERTMAIL

Situation Update No. 1 Posted:2010-03-23, 04:14:37 [UTC] Ref.no.: ED-20100323-25422-CHN Situation Update No. 1 On 2010-03-25 at 06:13:15 [UTC] Event: Enviroment Pollution Location: China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong Situation: Air Pollution is terrible in Hong Kong, but a toxic sandstorm sweeping in from nortern China caused its air quality to hit its worst levels in its environmental recorded history. The International Herald Tribune reports that, "air pollution in Hong Kong, one of the perpetual banes of living and working in the Asian financial hub, skyrocketed to record levels on Monday triggering an official government warning to avoid outdoor activities and physical exertion." For the past few days, pollution levels have been increasing casting a gray gloom over the harbor and hindering views of the famed skyline of Hong Kong. Hong Kong's air pollution index surged even further to significantly above 400 points at numerous measurement stations across the city by Monterrey afternoon, as disclosed by the Environmental Protection agency's website. Theses had been the worst levels since records started in 1995 a spokeswoman for the EPA revealed over the phone. The previous record struck 202 in Jouly 2008. according to the Herald Tribune, "at 600 and 700 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter, pollution levels are between 12 and 14 times what is recommended by the World Health Organization said the Clean Air Network, which campaigns to inform the public on Hoing Kong's pollution issues. The high levels partially indicated by a toxic sandstorm in northern China that was moving south, as disclosed in a statement by the Hong Kong environment department. Yet, the environmental protection manager at Civic Exchanges a public policy research institution, Mike Kilburn issued a statement saying that, "eventhough the dust storms have created record levels of particulate emissions, we must not lose sight of the fact that roadside pollution remains the single biggest threat to public health in Hong Kong." Please DO NOT reply to this message: replies may be treated as errors and result in your subscription being deleted. If you have trouble or other queries, send email to havaria@rsoe.hu RSOE EDIS is operated by the National Association of Radio-Distress Signalling and Infocommunications (RSOE), Budapest, Hungary. Because of the complexity of this system and its dependence on other systems, we cannot be responsible for delays or failures in forwarding or transmission. You're receiving this AlertMail because you subscribed for the service. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Contact: havaria@rsoe.hu