Doctors in Taipei said the number of people reporting asthma attacks and conjunctivitis since Wednesday has increased by 20 percent and 30 percent respectively, adding that the smog wafting over from China is likely responsible for the sudden spike, while the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on Thursday said that residents of central and southern Taiwan can expect extremely poor air quality through today.
The index for fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) could reach level 9 in the areas during the period, with Kaohsiung and Pingtung experiencing the worst air quality, the EPA said.
Level 9 on the 10-tier index represents PM2.5 concentrations of up to 70 micrograms per cubic meter and could be linked to chronic health problems.
Photo: CNA
The poor air quality is attributed to a cold air mass moving over Taiwan from the northwest bringing pollutants from China, the EPA said.
According to the EPA, measurements above level 7 on the PM2.5 index — 54 to 58 micrograms per cubic meter — are deemed severe enough to cause discomfort and health problems.
Lu Ta-wen (呂大文), the director of Tri-Service General Hospital’s department of orthopedics, said that on Wednesday the hospital treated a 20-year-old male patient complaining about eye irritation and increased secretion around the eyes.
The patient was diagnosed with acute conjunctivitis that the department said might have been caused by the continued irritation of his eyes by PM2.5 particles, as he works as a courier, riding a scooter throughout the day.
The hospital advised Taipei residents to wear protective goggles while riding scooters to protect their eyes from the microparticles brought by the smog.
If people feel they have something in their eyes, they could rinse out their eyes with saline solution, Lu said, adding that if people have red eyes or experience itchiness in the eyes, they should visit their nearest hospital or clinic.
Chung Chi-li (鍾啟禮), the director of Taipei Medical University Hospital’s department of pulmonology, said that the hospital has seen a 20 percent spike in patients reporting asthma attacks, adding that most patients had a history of asthma and the attacks were caused by the excessive amount of microparticles in the air.
The hospital treated a 20-year-old woman who experienced an asthma attack and was in danger of respiratory failure before the hospital increased the administered dosage of her medicine, Chung said.
Chung advised people not to go outside too often until the smog dissipates and said that if they need to go outside they should use public transportation instead of walking or riding a scooter.
Chung recommended wearing masks and advised peoplse susceptible to asthma to use their medication regularly and carry their emergency inhalers with them at all times, adding that Taipei residents could use air purifiers at home to decrease the risk of suffering an asthma attack.
Additional Reporting by CNA
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