Research by National Taiwan University (NTU) indicates that PM2.5 — fine particulate matter measuring 25 micrometers in diameter or smaller — might have been a factor in more than 6,000 deaths nationwide last year, with exposure to the pollutant linked to numerous diseases.
NTU epidemiology professor Lin Hsien-ho (林先和) yesterday said that his research team analyzed pollution data and occurrence patterns of four chronic diseases — coronary artery disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — and estimated that 6,275 people with those diseases died last year after long-term exposure to PM2.5.
The research found a regional difference in the disease-causing contribution of PM2.5.
PM2.5 contributed to 22 percent of the deaths in Yunlin among people with the four diseases, 21.7 percent in Nantou, 21.6 percent in Kaohsiung, but only 8.7 percent in Hualien, as industrial and traffic emissions are most severe in the nation’s west, Lin said, adding that on a national average, PM2.5 is a factor in 19 percent of the deaths caused by the four diseases.
The team collected data pertaining to 100,000 New Taipei City residents and estimated PM2.5 exposure levels with pollution data gathered from air quality monitoring stations in the city, Lin said.
For every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM2.5, there was a 39 percent increased risk of tuberculosis, Lin said.
Every 10 parts per billion elevation in nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide — major pollutants from vehicle exhausts — increases the risk of tuberculosis by 33 percent and 21 percent respectively, he said.
Tuberculosis is the No. 1 infectious disease in Taiwan in terms of occurrence and mortality rate, with the disease claiming 600 lives amid 11,000 new cases last year, he said.
“The NTU research indicates that a nationwide decrease of 10 micrometers per cubic meter of PM2.5 could prevent 2,000 to 3,000 tuberculosis cases per year, so it is reasonable and urgent to establish an inter-ministerial program to lower the annual PM2.5 level to the WHO standard,” Centers for Disease Control Director Kuo Hsu-sung (郭旭崧) said, adding that the nation’s annual PM2.5 concentration was 25 micrometers per cubic meter last year, while the WHO’s recommended maximum is 10 micrometers per cubic meter.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
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