Last night I woke up at about 0230. For the first time (for me personally) I could smell a slight, foul sulphurlike "burning metal" smell. Yesterday was actually a nice clear day, and it was clear when I went to bed. Curious, I thought. I opened up the curtains and was
stunned.
Despite the strong wind blowing (you guessed it, straight from China) there was a thick, white "fog". I quickly realised the "fog" was infact a thick blanket of white smoke. Here is this morning's Air Pollution Index figures. As per the above post, ignore the government provided API (the first figure) which is manipulated. Look at the second figure, which is a result of the inputs applied to the
accepted, internationally recognized method of calculating API.
I assumed the figures would be high (above 100)....but was stunned, then angry at the results:
SourcePollutantEPD APIGreenpeace API
Central/Western Respirable Suspended Particulates----58-----358.4
Eastern Respirable Suspended Particulates--------------51-----323.8
Kwai Chung Respirable Suspended Particulates----------59----341.6
Kwun Tong Respirable Suspended Particulates-----------58----342.6
Sha Tin Respirable Suspended Particulates---------------48----370.8
Sham Shui Po Respirable Suspended Particulates--------62----327.2
Tai Po Respirable Suspended Particulates----------------57------359
Tap Mun Respirable Suspended Particulates--------------53----286.2
Tsuen Wan Respirable Suspended Particulates-----------58----352.6
Tung Chung Respirable Suspended Particulates----------57----213.2
Yuen Long Respirable Suspended Particulates------------64----296.2
Causeway Bay Respirable Suspended Particulates--------68-----349
Central Respirable Suspended Particulates---------------73-----363.2
Anything over 100 is of concern...anything over
300...
If we take these corrected figures and apply them to a country that doesn't mislead you about these matters, you get a sobering public warning. The following is the public guideline for the US/Canada:
USA/Canada Air Quality Index (AQI)
AQI 301-500
Hazardous State of emergency would be declared. All will be affected.
No such warning from our local Environment Protection Department...why am I not suprised?
If you are thinking of moving to HK, and you have children, or you are health conscious to
any degree, and understand the pollution here, and you
still elect to come here...
...you need your head read.
Today:
I can't see buildings I can see on a clear day.
I can't see across the harbor.
I can't make out any detail on what hills I can see.