Lawmakers have proposed writing legislation on concentrations of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) into the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act (災害防救法) in an effort to better control air pollution.
The proposal, initiated by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) and supported by 16 other lawmakers, states that hazards caused by the high concentrations of PM2.5 should be added to the definition of “disaster” in the act and that the regulating authority should be the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).
Currently, “disaster” is defined as hazards caused by any of the following: natural disasters, including storms, floods, earthquakes, droughts, ice and mudslides; and disasters such as fires, explosions of gas and fuel pipelines, power transmission line failures, mining disasters, air crashes, shipwrecks, traffic accidents, forest fires and toxic chemical materials.
Under the proposed amendment, PM2.5 would be added to the list of non-natural disasters.
Many scientific studies have confirmed that high concentrations of PM2.5 could lead to early death, bronchitis, asthma, heart disease, lung cancers and other illnesses, the proposed amendment says.
Long-term of short-term exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of respiratory disease and death, so hazards caused by PM2.5 pollution should be listed among the disasters in the act, it says.
Under the 10-tier PM2.5 index, with level 10 — 71 micrograms per cubic meter or above — being the highest, measurements above level 7 — 54 to 58 micrograms per cubic meter — are deemed severe enough to cause tangible discomfort and health problems.
The proposed amendment has been sent to the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee for consideration.
On Sunday, data from the air quality monitoring network operated by the EPA showed that concentrations of PM2.5 were at “high” and “very high” levels in western regions, with PM2.5 indices there reaching between level 7 and level 10.
High PM2.5 levels in such areas were due to temperate weather conditions, leading to the accumulation of pollutants, while poor air quality in Kinmen and Matsu was caused by pollutants from China, the EPA said.
The EPA advised residents in the affected areas, especially those with allergies, to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activity.
Taiwan is to commence mass production of the Tien Kung (天弓, “Sky Bow”) III, IV and V missiles by the second quarter of this year if the legislature approves the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.78 billion) special defense budget, an official said yesterday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said that the advanced systems are expected to provide crucial capabilities against ballistic and cruise missiles for the proposed “T-Dome,” an advanced, multi-layered air defense network. The Tien Kung III is an air defense missile with a maximum interception altitude of 35km. The Tien Kung IV and V
The disruption of 941 flights in and out of Taiwan due to China’s large-scale military exercises was no accident, but rather the result of a “quasi-blockade” used to simulate creating the air and sea routes needed for an amphibious landing, a military expert said. The disruptions occurred on Tuesday and lasted about 10 hours as China conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait. The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said the exercises affected 857 international flights and 84 domestic flights, affecting more than 100,000 travelers. Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the government-sponsored Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the air
Taiwan lacks effective and cost-efficient armaments to intercept rockets, making the planned “T-Dome” interception system necessary, two experts said on Tuesday. The concerns were raised after China’s military fired two waves of rockets during live-fire drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, part of two-day exercises code-named “Justice Mission 2025.” The first wave involved 17 rockets launched at 9am from Pingtan in China’s Fujian Province, according to Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng (謝日升) of the Office of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Intelligence at the Ministry of National Defense. Those rockets landed 70 nautical miles (129.6km) northeast of Keelung without flying over Taiwan,
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
RSS