CONFIDENTIAL
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CHAPTER 4
AIR QUALITY
4.1
Some
1. 5
to
2 million
unacceptable1
levels
dioxide and
particu late
about 3
levels.
peop le
are
exposed to
These
of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen
million people are exposed to high
Many
peop le are exposed to unacceptable1 levels of all three pollutants.
pollutants, particularly when combined, can seriously
affect health, especially of those who are less robust,
such as the elderly, the very young and those already
suffering from illness.
4.2
the
asthma and bronchitis. The
in many parts of Hong Kong
condition of those already
The most common adverse health effects of these
pollutants take
form of increased incidence of
respiratory illnesses, such as
high leve ls of air pollution
must seriously aggravate the
suffering from such illnesses and contribute to the onset
of chronic conditions. Other health effects such as lung
cancer
are
can be caused by air pollution, as certain air
pollutants, such as those emitted from diesel vehicles,
known to be carcinogenic.
4.3
very
Air pollution in Hong Kong costs the community
large sums of money.
Although it is impossible to be
hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every
precise,
(1 'unacceptable' means exceeding the
Air Quality Objectives at figure 1.)
CONFIDENTIAL