Greenpeace launches Hong Kong pollution campaign as volunteers talk about the impact city’s bad air has on their health
- Environmental group to measure nitrogen dioxide levels as mother of two reveals she contracted airway allergy
- City has suffered through two days of serious risk to public health from high pollution levels in past week
Mrs Ho had always considered herself fit and healthy, but she had a nasty shock two years ago when she suffered an incessant coughing fit.
“I coughed uncontrollably, drawing odd stares and dirty looks from people around me on the street. I ended up with a hoarse voice for days,” said the mother of two.
The 56-year-old, who did not want to reveal her full name, went for a check-up at a government clinic, and was told she had contracted airway allergy. She believes her condition was caused in part by air pollution in the city. To better monitor the air quality in Hong Kong, Greenpeace has launched a citywide public campaign to attach 115 diffusion tubes to lamp posts in five districts.
The tubes, to be put in places near local amenities such as schools, public parks and footbridges, will collect street air samples for two weeks, and be taken to Britain to test the nitrogen dioxide levels in the samples.