Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/21
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Christie Chen
Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) Southern Taiwan saw very poor air quality Sunday due
CNA file photo
to pollution from China, with the key indicator of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) hitting the hazardous level of 10 in Kaohsiung, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Sunday.
As of 10 a.m., concentrations of PM2.5 reached level 8 in Tainan and Pingtung and 10 in Kaohsiung mainly because a cold air mass has brought a concentration of dust from China to Taiwan since Saturday, according to the EPA.
The dust wave came from northwestern China’s Gansu Province and began affecting Taiwan Saturday evening, the EPA said.
According to the EPA, level-10 PM2.5 concentrations exceed 71 micrograms per cubic meter and are considered extremely high, but measurements above level 7 are deemed severe enough to cause tangible discomfort and health problems. [FULL STORY]
