Air pollution is very serious in Hong Kong and New York. That's not only affects the quality of air we breath, but also our health, our mother nature, the image of Hong Kong worldwide as well as our future generations.

Pollution means 'contamination of any feature of the environment'. Pollution has the following characteristics:

1. It is the addition of substance at a faster rate than the environment can accomodate. Certain pollutants like arsenic or mercury have natural levels in nature, but only if these levels exceed certain critical values can they consider to be pollutants.

2. Pollutants are not only chemicals, but also forms of energy like heat, sound (so noise pollution) and radioactive rays.

3. To be a pollutant, a material has to be potentially harmful to life.

4. Pollution is the only result of human activities.

1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

2. Replace energy-hungry incandescent lights with fluorescent lighting. Check with your utility company for energy conservation tips.

3. Use a fan instead of air conditioner.

4. Microwave small meals.

5. Insulate your water heater.

6. Install low-flow shower heads.

Here are some tips to help saving energy:

1. Choose recycled products.2. Choose products with recyclable

packaging.3. Reuse paper bags.4. Recycle paper, plastics, and metals.5. Print and photocopy on both sides

of paper.

It takes energy to make and sell the products we use. Here are ways to cut energy use, reduce air pollution:

The EPD is responsible for proposing policies; enforcing environmental legislation; monitoring environmental quality; providing collection, transfer, treatment and disposal facilities for many types of waste; advising on the environmental implications of town planning and new policies; handling pollution complaints and incidents; and raising awareness and support in the community for environmental initiatives.

A logo of EPD

The suggestions of API is summarized below:

API Air Pollution 

Level

Health Implications

0 to 25 Low Not expected

26 to 50 Medium Not expected for the general population

51 to 100

High Acute health effects are not expected but chronic effects may be observed if you are exposed to such levels persistently for a long

time.

101 to 200

Very High

People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses may notice mild aggravation of their health conditions. Generally healthy individuals

may also notice some discomfort.

201 to 500

Severe People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses may experience significant aggravation of their symptoms. There may also be

widespread symptoms in the healthy population (e.g. eye irritation, wheezing, coughing, phlegm and sore throats).

The air quality monitoring network in Hong Kong of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) comprises fourteen fixed monitoring stations as of July 1999 to meet the following objectives:- 1. To understand air pollution problems in order that cost-

effective policies and solutions can be developed; 2. To assess how far standards and targets are being achieved or

violated; 3. To assist the assessment of public's exposure to air pollution;

and 4. To provide public information on current and forecast air

quality.

Equipment setup inside monitoring station

Sample and Calibrator Air Distribution Block

Station Indoor Temperature Sensor

Continuous Gaseous (SO2, NO2, CO & O3) Analyzers and Automatic Calibration Controller

Gaseous Calibrator and Zero Air Generator

Continuous RSP Sampler (TEOM)

A greenhouse is a glass-built building for growing plants. With illumination from the sun, heat enters the house with little of it escaped as the glass traps it. The temperature inside the house is much higher than that of air outside. Plants grow there can have more warmth and healthier.

Our atmosphere is like a huge greenhouse. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, acts like the glass of a greenhouse. The changes in climate of the Earth and the subsequent effects are called greenhouse effect.

Name of gasContribution

Source(s)

Carbon dioxide(CO2)

50% From burning coal and oil, and the removal of vegetation

Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)

20% From air conditioners, refrigerators and aerosols

Methane(CH4)

16% From rice growing, animal waste, swamps and landfills

Ozone(O3)

8% From air pollution

Nitrous oxide(N2O) 6% From fertilizers and burning of coal and oil

Greenhouse effect may be beneficial. When the Earth is warmer, there may be an increase in agricultural production. But the problem is that the amount of greenhouse gases increases dramatically. It grew 3 times in the past 100 years. Such rising may induce harmful effects to the environment:

2. Changing rainfall patternsWarming also affects rainfall and food

production. Some places have an increment in rainfall and some will decrease. There may be flooding or drought in various farmlands. Food is important for lives. That means more people, especially in the developing countries, suffer from hunger.

1. Rise of sea-levelClimates do change naturally over long periods of time. However, the Earth becomes warmer in the recent decades.

Global warming causes the polar ice sheets melt. It increases the sea-level. Flooding will probably occur in lowlands. Many cities along the coast may be under sea water.

Leader: Clement Lam (25)

Members: Chow Lik Hang (8)

Ho Lung Wa (10)

Kee Ki Lung (12)

Lam Lai Chun (22)

Lucanus Lam (23)