The Ministry of Environment’s (MOENV) Air Quality Statistics issued on Thursday showed a general decrease in all pollutant density across the nation over the past five years.
Department of Monitoring and Information Deputy Secretary-General Hu Ming-hui (胡明輝) said statistics over the past five years showed that PM10, particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter, have gone down by 8 percent, PM2.5 levels have fallen by 7 percent to 11 percent compared with last year, while nitrogen dioxide has gone down by 15 percent.
However, ozone pollution levels have only decreased by 3 percent, leaving much to be desired, Hu said.
Photo: Wu Po-hsuan, Taipei Times
Ninety percent of days in the five years had an Air Quality Index (AQI) level below 100, or were of average air quality, while weather stations only recorded 1,566 days during which the air quality was at “orange” — which is bad for those with allergies — down from 4,270 days in the five years to 2018, he said.
As of last month, the average PM2.5 density was 12.5mg per cubic meter, down from 13.7mg per cubic meter last year, the secretary-general added.
PM2.5 introduced from foreign sources in February coupled with this year’s Typhoon Usagi resulted in a spike in PM2.5 levels in Taiwan, Hu said.
The increased rain in the latter half of the year had helped reduce air pollution, Hu added.
Department of Atmospheric Environment Director-General Chang Shun-chin (張順欽) said NT$76.6 billion (US$2.34 billion) would be invested from this year to 2027 to decrease PM2.5 levels and ozone pollution.
The funds are to be used to target the petrochemical industry to reduce air pollution, lessen the number of high-emission vehicles by 50 percent, promote the use of electric-powered buses and environment-friendly joss paper, encourage ships to use coast-based power for recharging and restrict the residual amount of volatile organic compounds in commercial products, he said.
The new air quality standards, as defined under Paragraph 3, Article 5 of the Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法), that were amended in September are to enter into effect on Wednesday next week, Chang said.
The amendments would adjust the air pollution levels for the AQI, increasing the number of warnings issued, Chang added.
Air pollution forewarnings for outlying islands would be increased to three days of advanced warnings from one, allowing outlying islands to have more time to react to air pollution, he said.
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