Protests over air pollution were held in nine cities and counties on June 6. The people at the rallies expressed their desire, in the run-up to next year’s legislative and presidential elections, that political parties and candidates demonstrate their determination to tackle the issue. They said politicians need to show that they will place the issue right at the top of the environmental protection agenda and come up with effective actions and measures to bring about change.
Politicians and candidates had better be able to address the issue.
Environmental pollution is a serious national issue. In the past, pollution was tied to economic development, with capitalists and factories wantonly polluting the environment and affecting people’s health. Today, when the effects of this pollution are so devastating and its impact on health so grievous, Taiwanese seem to be least aware of the problem.
The WHO has confirmed that air pollution is a major carcinogen, and yet the Ministry of Health and Welfare has yet to list air pollution as a major health threat. This is clearly a dereliction of duty. The number of people dying of cancer has increased year-on-year over the past three decades, with three times the number of deaths from lung cancer recorded this year compared with 30 years ago. The proportion of deaths from lung cancer among women has gradually increased, while it has slowly decreased among men. In 2013, for example, 3,141 women died from lung cancer in Taiwan, while the ratio of deaths among men compared with women fell from 3:1 to 1.4:1. While banning smoking in public places has paid dividends, air pollution now presents a more serious threat than before.
Deaths from lung cancer among women have risen from one case per 100,000 half a century ago to more than 20 cases per 100,000. With more women working, more are being exposed to pollution outside the home and in a very short space of time, it has come to the situation in which nearly as many women are dying from lung cancer as men. In addition, deaths from lung cancer are occurring at increasingly younger ages. In Taiwan, a 17-year-old developed lung cancer. In China, there was a case involving an eight-year-old child.
Some sources of air pollution are beyond control, particularly that blown over from China. However, heavy industries in central and southern Taiwan, such as the thermal power station in Taichung, Formosa Plastics Group’s naphtha cracker in Yunlin County’s Mailiao Township (麥寮) and the industrial park in Kaohsiung, have all contributed. Then there is the dust blown up from dried-up river beds, scooter and motorcycle exhaust fumes, and pollution from letting off firecrackers and burning incense and spirit money, all exposing people to the danger of lung cancer, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, asthma and cardiovascular diseases.
Where people live, to an extent, determines their health and life expectancy. People living in such as places Yunlin and Changhua counties, where there is more severe industrial pollution, have a higher risk of cancer, which is one of the main reasons that the antipollution demonstrations were staged in central and southern Taiwan.
The issue of air pollution should be tackled at all levels of government.
First, air pollution is the largest environmental problem facing Taiwan. The ministry should make the public aware of the dangers presented by air pollution and increase spending on air pollution related illnesses through the National Health Insurance system.
Second, annual deaths from lung cancer, for many years now, have exceeded those from liver cancer. The ministry should provide statistics for PM2.5-related [airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or less] adenocarcinomas in young people, women, and urban and rural townships throughout the nation.
Third, the health authorities ought to remind the public and the government that reducing air pollution can help save lives and reduce medical treatment costs.
Fourth, there should be greater cooperation between government departments. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) should no longer act in isolation, or view the Ministry of Economic Affairs as its final arbiter. The Cabinet should adopt as its overriding principle protection of the environment and a sustainable future for Taiwan.
Fifth, groups and individuals responsible for government policy on pollution should see that pollution’s impact on health is included on the agenda. An air-quality assessment system should be created to incorporate elementary and secondary-school education and activities, to encourage clean technologies and fuels, and to enhance the nation’s ability to tackle pollution.
Sixth, harmful traditions such as letting off fireworks, and burning incense and spirit money should be done away with. The religions these traditions are associated with should adapt and move on. The committees of temples that fail to comply should be named and shamed, while local governments and councils should prohibit or actively discourage the use of large amounts of fireworks in the interests of protecting public health and safety.
Seventh, mass transport systems should be promoted more to reduce scooter exhaust emissions. Vehicles should be regulated in urban areas.
Eighth, electricity and water supply prices should take into account sustainability of supply, as well as what effect they might have on demand and the environment. Furthermore, electricity, energy and water-intensive companies should be asked to pay more in environmental taxes.
Chiang Sheng is an attending physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mackay Memorial Hospital.
Translated by Paul Cooper
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