Taiwan would experience poorer air quality and visibility this week due to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) moving in from China, the Ministry of Environment said.
The ministry yesterday said that air quality across Taiwan is expected to range from “moderate to orange” warning levels from today to Thursday.
An orange alert level means air quality is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” although “the general public is not likely to be affected,” the ministry’s Air Quality Monitoring Network Web site said.
Photo: Screen grab from the Ministry of Environment’s Web site
The ministry said that PM2.5 hourly concentrations of about 100mcg to 180mcg per cubic meter were accumulating above Shanghai and China’s Shandong Province yesterday.
Accompanied by a southbound cold air mass, a wave of these particles is expected to blow into Taiwan today with PM2.5 concentrations measuring 40mcg to 50mcg per cubic meter possible in northern parts of the country, the ministry said.
The particulates are then forecast to sweep southward with prevailing winds, lowering air quality across Taiwan.
The WHO’s air quality guidelines recommend that 24-hour average exposures to PM2.5 particulates not exceed 15mcg per cubic meter.
“During periods of poor air quality, you should try to avoid going outside as much as possible,” the ministry said.
“If you do go out, you are advised to wear a protective mask,” it added.
The ministry also said it had notified local environmental protection bureaus to initiate contingency procedures such as strengthening pollution prevention and control measures at construction sites.
Air quality in areas north of Hsinchu and Miaoli counties is expected to improve from tomorrow, although other areas would continue to be affected until at least Thursday, when another wave of pollution from China might also roll into Taiwan, the ministry said.
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