Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
TVBS – March 16, 2015
Air pollution in central and southern Taiwan is becoming increasingly severe. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), from October last year to February this year, there were only 10 days when the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was below the moderate level, indicating good air quality. From March up to yesterday, the levels have exceeded standards every day.
Experts warn that haze pollution may lead to cardiovascular diseases and could shorten the average lifespan of Taiwanese citizens by 43.6 days.
Haze from mainland China affects Taiwan, leaving the skies gray. The EPA began monitoring PM2.5 levels in 2006, with over 70 monitoring stations across the country. Professor Cheng Tsun-Jen from the National Taiwan University College of Public Health found through animal experiments that mice exposed to an environment with an average PM2.5 level of 13 for three months developed arrhythmia and heart disease.
Chang Shun-Chin, Deputy Director of the EPA’s Environmental Monitoring Division (March 2, 2015), stated: "Haze and other pollutants are brought to Taiwan when the northeast monsoon affects the island, typically from November to March or April each year."
Professor Chuang Ping-Chi from the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Chung Hsing University pointed out that the top three contributors to PM2.5 concentration are the Sixth Naphtha Cracker Complex (Sixth Naphtha), Taiwan Chemical Fiber's Changhua Plant, and Hwa Ya Cogeneration Power Plant. The Sixth Naphtha alone exposes the entire country to PM2.5 levels that could shorten lifespans by 13.4 days for Taipei residents, 52.5 days for Kaohsiung residents, and over 100 days for residents of Chiayi, Nantou, and Yunlin.
Yang Chih-Yuan, Director of the Department of Land Resources at Chinese Culture University (March 2, 2015), said: "Factories emit pollutants that produce sulfate and nitrate precursors, such as nitrogen oxides, which need stricter regulation. Additionally, controls on nitrogen oxide emissions from motor vehicles could be further strengthened."
Air pollution may lead to cardiovascular diseases and even reduce life expectancy. The severity of PM2.5 demands greater attention from authorities.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……6% BE% E7% 97% 85- 052800987. html
Taiwan's Lifespan at Risk: PM2.5 Haze Threatens Cardiovascular Health
Air pollution in central and southern Taiwan is becoming increasingly severe. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), from October last year to February this year, there were only 10 days when the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was below the moderate level, indicating good air quality. From March up to yesterday, the levels have exceeded standards every day.
Experts warn that haze pollution may lead to cardiovascular diseases and could shorten the average lifespan of Taiwanese citizens by 43.6 days.
Haze from mainland China affects Taiwan, leaving the skies gray. The EPA began monitoring PM2.5 levels in 2006, with over 70 monitoring stations across the country. Professor Cheng Tsun-Jen from the National Taiwan University College of Public Health found through animal experiments that mice exposed to an environment with an average PM2.5 level of 13 for three months developed arrhythmia and heart disease.
Chang Shun-Chin, Deputy Director of the EPA’s Environmental Monitoring Division (March 2, 2015), stated: "Haze and other pollutants are brought to Taiwan when the northeast monsoon affects the island, typically from November to March or April each year."
Professor Chuang Ping-Chi from the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Chung Hsing University pointed out that the top three contributors to PM2.5 concentration are the Sixth Naphtha Cracker Complex (Sixth Naphtha), Taiwan Chemical Fiber's Changhua Plant, and Hwa Ya Cogeneration Power Plant. The Sixth Naphtha alone exposes the entire country to PM2.5 levels that could shorten lifespans by 13.4 days for Taipei residents, 52.5 days for Kaohsiung residents, and over 100 days for residents of Chiayi, Nantou, and Yunlin.
Yang Chih-Yuan, Director of the Department of Land Resources at Chinese Culture University (March 2, 2015), said: "Factories emit pollutants that produce sulfate and nitrate precursors, such as nitrogen oxides, which need stricter regulation. Additionally, controls on nitrogen oxide emissions from motor vehicles could be further strengthened."
Air pollution may lead to cardiovascular diseases and even reduce life expectancy. The severity of PM2.5 demands greater attention from authorities.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……6% BE% E7% 97% 85- 052800987. html