Poor air quality was recorded in parts of southern Taiwan and outlying Kinmen County early yesterday, as a cold front brought high concentrations of pollutants from China, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said.
At various times yesterday morning, the EPA’s air quality index flashed “red” in Chiayi City, Tainan and Kinmen County, indicating “unhealthy” levels of air pollution, it said.
Parts of Changhua County, Chiayi County and Kaohsiung were flashing “orange” on the index, signaling unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, it said.
Photo: CNA
In other parts of the county, the air quality readings ranged from “moderate” to “good,” the EPA said.
The poor air quality has been caused by strengthening northeasterly winds, which has brought PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller — with a concentration of 80 to 120 micrograms per cubic meter across the Taiwan Strait from China, the EPA said.
In Tainan, where residents yesterday reported smog and low visibility, city officials said the air quality was not expected to improve until this afternoon.
The EPA has forecast that from tomorrow through Thursday, wind conditions in areas north of Hsinchu would be ideal for dispersing the incoming pollutants.
However, in downwind locations in central and southern Taiwan, the pollutants could linger during that period, the agency said.
The air quality might be especially bad in coastal areas from Changhua County to Tainan, due to dust being picked up by strong winds, it said.
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