Southern Taiwan saw very poor air quality yesterday due to pollution from China, with the key indicator of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) hitting the hazardous level of 10 in Kaohsiung, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said.
As of 10am, concentrations of PM2.5 reached level 8 in Tainan and Pingtung County and 10 in Kaohsiung mainly because a cold air mass has brought a concentration of dust from China since Saturday, the EPA said.
Level 10 PM2.5 concentrations exceed 71 micrograms per cubic meter and are considered extremely high, but measurements above level 7 are deemed severe enough to cause tangible discomfort and health problems, the agency said.
Photo: Chen Wen-chan, Taipei Times
Given the poor air quality, the elderly and those with chronic lung or heart diseases should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activity, the EPA said.
Meanwhile, a physician at Chi Mei Medical Center said seven of the nation’s top 10 causes of death by cancer are associated with air pollution.
Hsieh Yi-ju (謝依儒) said the source of PM2.5 can be from natural activities such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires or rock weathering; or from human activities such as emissions from motor vehicles, factories and power plants, or burning, cooking and smoking.
More than 30 percent of the nation’s PM2.5 is brought in from across national borders, including industrial pollution and sand storms from China, Hsieh said, adding that these particles are so small that they can bypass the nose and throat and penetrate deeper into the lungs and bloodstream, bringing toxic substances into the body.
He said PM2.5 matter mainly affects the respiratory tract, triggering symptoms including coughing, breathing difficulties, a decline in lung function, asthma, chronic inflammation or a weakened immune system.
However, PM2.5 matter also affects the cardiovascular system, contributing to chronic inflammation, autonomic nervous system disorders and arrhythmias, Hsieh said, adding that studies showed that it effects the brain too, leading to higher risks of suffering a stoke or developing dementia.
Yu Chia-hang (余佳航), a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Sinying Hospital, said vegetables and herbs classified by traditional Chinese medical theory as “white foods” might alleviate discomfort caused by PM2.5 pollution.
Exposure to heavy concentrations PM2.5 frequently caused symptoms such as watery eyes, eye pains, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, throat pain and poor sleep, he said.
To reduce symptoms of exposure to PM2.5 pollution, Yu said people should incorporate medicinal vegetables and herbs classified as “white foods” in their diets because these foods are believed to bolster lung health.
“White foods” include Asian pears, white mu-err mushrooms and the fungus Wolfiporia extensa; lotus seeds, prickly water lily seeds and coix seeds; and the Chinese white radish, cinnamon vines and lilium bulbs, Yu said.
Yu said that only respirators or masks with a N95 rating or higher offer any protection against PM2.5 pollution, and that users should fit the masks snugly to the face without leaving gaps.
Users must replace the mask every four hours to avoid inhaling harmful quantities of fine particles accumulated on the mask, he added.
Concern about the smoke from burning mugwort in traditional Chinese medical therapy is misplaced because recent research suggests that mugwort smoke in a reasonably ventilated traditional clinic is not a significant health risk, while the medical benefits of mugwort smoke as an antioxidant is supported by several studies, Yu said.
Additional reporting by CNA
US President Donald Trump said "it’s up to" Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) what China does on Taiwan, but that he would be "very unhappy" with a change in the "status quo," the New York Times said in an interview published yesterday. Xi "considers it to be a part of China, and that’s up to him what he’s going to be doing," Trump told the newspaper on Wednesday. "But I’ve expressed to him that I would be very unhappy if he did that, and I don’t think he’ll do that," he added. "I hope he doesn’t do that." Trump made the comments in
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
A cold surge advisory was today issued for 18 cities and counties across Taiwan, with temperatures of below 10°C forecast during the day and into tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. New Taipei City, Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, Miaoli and Yilan counties are expected to experience sustained temperatures of 10°C or lower, the CWA said. Temperatures are likely to temporarily drop below 10°C in most other areas, except Taitung, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, CWA data showed. The cold weather is being caused by a strong continental cold air mass, combined with radiative cooling, a process in which heat escapes from
Snow this morning fell on Alishan for the first time in seven years, as a strong continental cold air mass sent temperatures plunging across Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The Alishan weather station, located at an elevation of about 2,200m in central Taiwan, recorded snowfall from 8:55am to 9:15am, when the temperature dropped to about 1°C, the CWA said. With increased moisture and low temperatures in the high-altitude Alishan area, the conditions were favorable for snow, CWA forecaster Tsai Yi-chi (蔡伊其) said. The last time snow fell at the Alishan weather station was on Jan. 10, 2018, while graupel fell there
RSS