Occupy Central protesters face health risk as pollution alert raised in city
Pepper spray aside, Occupy Central protesters could be facing a health risk from air pollution by remaining out on the streets.
Pepper spray aside, Occupy Central protesters could be facing a health risk from air pollution by remaining out on the streets.
While the threat had been low due to less traffic since the demonstrations began, the Environmental Protection Department yesterday changed its health risk forecast to "high" and "very high" in the city.
The fall in air quality is being caused by different sources of pollution, said Kwong Sum-yin, chief executive officer of Clean Air Network. "It's the high concentration of ozone that has worsened the air quality of the whole city, spreading from Tung Chung and Yuen Long to other urban districts," Kwong said. This is caused by regional pollution from the Pearl River Delta.
The department said: "The weather on the coast of Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta, including Hong Kong, is fine and hot. The wind is light in the territory and the intense sunshine will enhance photochemical smog activities and the formation of ozone."
The department added that light winds in the city hindered dispersal of pollutants at street level, leading to a higher than normal pollution level.
"The general public is advised to reduce, or reduce to a minimum, outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce time outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic," it said.
Kwong said she expected the pollution problem to last because wind direction changes as winter approaches. "Wind usually blows from the mainland to Hong Kong in the winter season," she said.
The ozone level recorded in Causeway Bay at 6pm yesterday was about 160 micrograms per cubic metre of air, more than double the 63mcg recorded at the same time the previous day. In Central, the level almost tripled from 57mcg to 167mcg, and in Mong Kok the level increased from 32mcg to 145mcg.
Meanwhile, the Observatory said a monsoon reached the south China coast last night and was likely to bring rain.
Madson Yeung Ho-yu, who joined the protest on Nathan Road in Mong Kok yesterday, said poor weather would not undermine the protesters' determination to seek democracy.
"I don't think rain and bad air quality will dampen or deter protesters' will and confidence," he said. "We have raincoats ready to hand out. We also have big umbrellas for protesters to share."
