Air Pollution In Hong Kong
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Air pollution in Hong Kong is considered a serious problem. It becomes a concern soon after the start of 2000s. Cases of
asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...
and bronchial infections have soared due to reduced air quality.


Background

In the 1980s, the labour-intensive industries of Hong Kong faced the problem of increasing land rents and labour costs封, p.34 while the economic reforms in mainland China provided a favourable condition for building factories there.封, p.35Keung Mainland China had labour and land and looser pollution control than Hong Kong.Ip, Lam and Wong, p.20 Therefore, Hong Kong industrialists took advantage of mainland China's pull factors by relocating their factories there.Ip, Lam and Wong, p.15 Most factories relocated to the
Pearl River Delta The Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary, where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea. Referred to as the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area in official documents, ...
.封, p.36 The first factories were relocated to mainland China in the late 1970s. The relocation trend reached its peak in the mid-1980s. By the 1990s, over 80% of the factories had been relocated to mainland China. The environment of Hong Kong has improved while that of mainland China is heavily polluted.Ip, Lam and Wong, p.30 Consequently, local governments of South China passed laws to restrict industrial pollution.Ip, Lam and Wong, p.31 The relocated factories needed support services including
shipping Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...
,
insurance Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect ...
, and above all,
finance Finance refers to monetary resources and to the study and Academic discipline, discipline of money, currency, assets and Liability (financial accounting), liabilities. As a subject of study, is a field of Business administration, Business Admin ...
. As more people working in the tertiary sector, Hong Kong's economy grew increasingly reliant on service industries.何, p.88


Major emission sources

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) published the Hong Kong Air Pollutant Emission Inventory on their website every year since 2000. , there are "seven source categories for six major air pollutants, namely: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), respirable suspended particulates (RSP or PM10), fine suspended particulates (FSP or PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide (CO)". "The emission sources include non-combustion sources, public electricity generation, road transport, navigation, civil aviation, other combustion sources, and hill fires" according to the inventory. Hill fires are considered random in nature by the EPD and are not included in the chart below. In 2022, other combustion sources (e.g., non-road mobile machineries operating in construction sites and container terminals) and non-combustion sources (e.g., for VOC, paints and associated solvents, consumer products and printing; for respirable suspended particulate, i.e., PM10, and fine suspended particulate, i.e., PM2.5, paved road dust, cooking fumes, construction dust and quarry production) are major emission sources for PM2.5, PM10 and VOC (as compared with combustion sources such as public electricity generation, road transport, navigation and civil aviation).
2022 Emission Inventory
Other major air pollutants in Hong Kong include
ozone Ozone () (or trioxygen) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , break ...
and
lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...
. Ozone can be called a secondary pollutant.
Volatile organic compound Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are common and exist in a variety of settings and products, not limited to Indoor mold, house mold, Upholstery, upholstered furnitur ...
s (VOCs) react with
nitrogen oxide Nitrogen oxide may refer to a binary compound of oxygen and nitrogen, or a mixture of such compounds: Charge-neutral *Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen(II) oxide, or nitrogen monoxide * Nitrogen dioxide (), nitrogen(IV) oxide * Nitrogen trioxide (), o ...
s (NOx) to form ozone under sunlight, "which in turn helps the formation of fine particulates. The accumulation of ozone, fine particulates and other gaseous pollutants results in smog that reduces visibility." The production and concentration of ozone depends on the presence of primary pollutants and UV light. “In the presence of volatile organic compounds, high concentrations of ozone are formed. This type of pollution … is termed 'photochemical smog'."


Effects

Declining regional air quality means visibility has also decreased dramatically. In 2004, low visibility occurred 18 per cent of the time, the highest on record, according to the
Hong Kong Observatory The Hong Kong Observatory is a weather forecast agency of the government of Hong Kong. The Observatory forecasts the weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards. It also monitors and makes assessments on radiation levels in Hong ...
.


Health implications

The mortality rate from vehicular pollution can be twice as high near heavily travelled roads, based on a study conducted in the Netherlands at residences 50 metres from a main road and 100 metres from a freeway. Since millions of people in Hong Kong live and work in close proximity to busy roads, this presents a major health risk to city residents. The Hong Kong Medical Association estimates that air pollution can exacerbate asthma, impair lung function and raise the risk of cardio-respiratory death by 2 to 3 per cent for every increase of 10 micrograms per cubic metre of pollutants. Studies by local public health experts have found that these roadside pollution levels are responsible for 90,000 hospital admissions and 2,800 premature deaths every year. In 2009 the Australian government highlighted that air pollution in Hong Kong could exacerbate some medical conditions. Former Chief Executive
Donald Tsang Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (; born 7 October 1944) is a former Hong Kong civil servant who served as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012. Tsang joined the colonial civil service as an Executive Officer in 1967, occupyi ...
declared that the high life-expectancy of Hong Kong demonstrates that concerns over air quality were not justified. Professor Anthony Hedley, chair of community medicine at Hong Kong University, said: "Tsang is badly advised on current public health issues." Hedley added that air pollution levels in Hong Kong were extremely high, and could affect the lungs, blood vessels and heart. James Tien, former Chairman of the Liberal Party of Hong Kong, retorted, "Can sangreally be confident that, if pollution continues to worsen, will he be able to promise the same life expectancy for our children and for our grandchildren?"


Economic impact

Even as early as 2000, the total negative impact to the Hong Kong Economy, including cardiorespiratory disease was in excess of HK$11.1 billion. About 1,600 deaths a year might be avoided if air quality improves. Made aware of fresh statistical and anecdotal evidence that pollution is driving away business and hurting Hong Kong's global competitiveness, James Tien called air pollution "a health issue, a lifestyle issue, a tourism issue, a business issue, and increasingly a political issue".Jonathan Cheng
Lot of hot air on pollution, claims Tien
, ''The Standard'', 4 December 2006
In 2006,
Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, doing business as Merrill, and previously branded Merrill Lynch, is an American investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America. Along with BofA Securities, the investm ...
downgraded several Hong Kong property companies because of air quality concerns, and there have been warnings from the head of the
Stock Exchange A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds and other financial instruments. Stock exchanges may also provide facilities for ...
that pollution was scaring investors away. It said that the air quality in Hong Kong is now regularly so poor that its "long-term competitiveness is in some doubt".Our future up in the air
, William Pesek, ''
The Standard The Standard may refer to: Entertainment * The Standard (band), an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon * ''The Standard'' (novel), a 1934 novel by the Austrian writer Alexander Lernet-Holenia * ''The Standard'' (Tommy Flanagan album), 1980 * ...
'', 8 December 2006
Pollution is dramatically harming not only the health of citizens of Hong Kong but also its economy, particularly relating to the ability to attract skilled foreign labour. The chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said there are people declining offers to work in the Hong Kong offices due to pollution: "It's going to cost us in the future if we don't clean up here." "Five years ago, air quality wasn't a concern when people considered whether to relocate to Hong Kong", the Chief Executive of Jardine Engineering Corp. said in 2006. "In the past, one of the advantages was clean air. We can no longer say that." A London-based human resources consultant said.


Causes


Construction dust and quarry production

Construction dust and quarry production are major causes of air pollution in Hong Kong. As of March 2024, there are 1668 construction sites in Hong Kong, around half of them are from private sector and the remaining are from public sector.


Concrete plant

Concrete batching plants contribute to air pollution in Hong Kong.


Materials or wastes not properly covered

Dusty materials that are not cleaned up or properly covered (e.g. in construction sites and dump trucks) are causes of air pollution in Hong Kong,
"Everyday, hundreds of dump trucks carry all kinds of dusty material from construction sites to public filling barging points. Improper covering of dusty material would result in substantial fugitive dust emissions during road transportation. Consequently, the air quality of Hong Kong, in particular, the total suspended particulate, would be greatly affected."


Renovation and refurbishment

Renovation Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, o ...
and refurbishment can emit
particulates Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspension (chemistry), suspended in the atmosphere of Earth, air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate ...
and other
pollutant A pollutant or novel entity is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effect, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. These can be both naturally forming (i.e. minerals or extracted compounds like oi ...
s. A large amount of
waste Waste are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use. A by-product, by contrast is a joint product of relatively minor Value (economics), economic value. A wast ...
can be generated and result in air pollution. Common pollutants include
volatile organic compound Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are common and exist in a variety of settings and products, not limited to Indoor mold, house mold, Upholstery, upholstered furnitur ...
s (VOCs) (from solvent-based paints,
solvents A solvent (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for p ...
and
adhesives Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. The use of adhesives offers certain advantage ...
) and
dust Dust is made of particle size, fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian processes, aeolian process), Types of volcan ...
from
cutting Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the sca ...
, grinding,
polishing Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by rubbing it or by applying a chemical treatment, leaving a clean surface with a significant specular reflection (still limited by the index of refraction of the material accordi ...
and sanding
materials A material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical and chemical properties, or on their ge ...
. There were reports that
lead paint Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead. As pigment, lead(II) chromate (, "chrome yellow"), lead(II,IV) oxide, (, "red lead"), and lead(II) carbonate (, "white lead") are the most common forms.. Lead is added to paint to acceler ...
was used for renovation in Hong Kong and caused significant ... effects on human. There are more than twenty thousand home improvement projects every year in Hong Kong, affecting more than a million residents (population of HK is around 7.5 million in 2023).


Unregulated use of tools

Use of power tools can cause adverse effects on people. Power tools can produce large amounts of
particulates Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspension (chemistry), suspended in the atmosphere of Earth, air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate ...
including
ultrafine particle Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are particulate matter of nanoscale size (less than 0.1 μm or 100 nm in diameter). Regulations do not exist for this size class of ambient air pollution particles, which are far smaller than the regulated PM10 and ...
s. Use of hand tools can also produce nanoparticle, although the total particle number concentration (PNC) results may be lower than that of using power tools. Plastics are extensively used in the construction and renovation industry. Airborne microplastic dust (a type of particulates) is produced during
renovation Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, o ...
,
building A building or edifice is an enclosed Structure#Load-bearing, structure with a roof, walls and window, windows, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, a ...
, bridge and road reconstruction projects and the use of
power tools A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air ...
.
Microplastics Microplastics are "synthetic solid particles or polymeric matrices, with regular or irregular shape and with size ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm, of either primary or secondary manufacturing origin, which are insoluble in water." Microplastics a ...
is also generated by deterioration of
building materials Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings and other structures, like bridges. Apart from natur ...
Particulates are the most harmful form (other than ultra-fines) of
air pollution Air pollution is the presence of substances in the Atmosphere of Earth, air that are harmful to humans, other living beings or the environment. Pollutants can be Gas, gases like Ground-level ozone, ozone or nitrogen oxides or small particles li ...
There is no safe level of particulates. Many tasks create
dust Dust is made of particle size, fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian processes, aeolian process), Types of volcan ...
. High dust levels are caused by one of more the following: * equipment – using high energy tools, such as cut-off saws, grinders, wall chasers and grit blasters produce a lot of dust in a very short time * work method – dry sweeping can make a lot of dust when compared to vacuuming or wet brushing * work area – the more enclosed a space, the more the dust will build up * time – the longer you work the more dust there will be Examples of high dust level tasks include: * using power tools to cut, grind, drill or prepare a surface * sanding taped
plaster board Drywall (also called plasterboard, dry lining, wallboard, sheet rock, gib board, gypsum board, buster board, turtles board, slap board, custard board, gypsum panel and gyprock) is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum), with or witho ...
joints * dry sweeping Some power tools are equipped with
dust collection system A dust collector is a system used to enhance the quality of air released from industrial and commercial processes by collecting dust particle and other impurities from air or gas. Designed to handle high-volume dust loads, a dust collector syste ...
(e.g.
HEPA HEPA (, high efficiency particulate air) filter, also known as a high efficiency particulate arresting filter, is an efficiency standard of air filters. Filters meeting the HEPA standard must satisfy certain levels of efficiency. Common standa ...
vacuum cleaner) or integrated water delivery system which extract the dust after emission. The use of certain types of power tool such as
angle grinder An angle grinder, also known as a side grinder or disc grinder, is a handheld power tool used for grinding (abrasive cutting) and polishing. History The high-speed angle grinder was invented in 1954 by German company Ackermann + Schmitt ( FLE ...
can produce much more harmful sparks and fumes (and particulates) when compared with using
reciprocating saw A reciprocating saw is a type of handheld, small, machine-powered saw, in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull ("reciprocating") or back-and-forth motion of the blade. The original trade name, Sawzall, is often used in th ...
or
band saw A bandsaw (also written band saw) is a power saw with a long, sharp blade consisting of a continuous band of toothed metal stretched between two or more wheels to cut material. They are used principally in woodworking, metalworking, and lumb ...
.


Hill fire

Hill fire (or wildfire) is a main source of air pollution. According to the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (; formerly the Agriculture and Fisheries Department () before 2000, of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for agriculture and fisheries in Hong Kong, conservation projects and issu ...
(AFCD), major causes of hill fires include joss paper and sticks not extinguished after grace sweepers’ worship activities, outdoor
barbecuing Barbecue or barbeque (often shortened to BBQ worldwide; barbie or barby in Australia and New Zealand) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that employ live fire and smoke to coo ...
or cooking, and burning of vegetation and rubbish. “The countryside is therefore prone to high fire risk. Although fires occur in natural environments, almost all are caused by human negligence.” To prevent hill fire, the AFCD suggested that weeds around the grave should be cleared by hand-tools, joss paper and sticks should only be burnt in containers, and “never burn rubbish, weeds or grasses”. Wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide, black and brown carbon particles, and ozone precursors such as
volatile organic compound Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are common and exist in a variety of settings and products, not limited to Indoor mold, house mold, Upholstery, upholstered furnitur ...
s and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. ... Wildfires also emit substantial amounts of semi-volatile organic species that can partition from the gas phase to form
secondary organic aerosol Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) are fine particulates found in the Earth's atmosphere that can impact human health and air quality. SOAs are formed through a series of chemical reactions between sunlight, primary organic matter and volatile orga ...
(SOA) over hours to days after emission. In addition, the formation of the other pollutants as the air is transported can lead to harmful exposures for populations in regions far away from the wildfires. While direct emissions of harmful pollutants can affect first responders and residents, wildfire smoke can also be transported over long distances and impact air quality across local, regional, and global scales. Wildfire smoke is composed of combustion products i.e.
particulate matter Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate matter alone, though it is sometimes defin ...
,
carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the si ...
,
water vapor Water vapor, water vapour, or aqueous vapor is the gaseous phase of Properties of water, water. It is one Phase (matter), state of water within the hydrosphere. Water vapor can be produced from the evaporation or boiling of liquid water or from th ...
,
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...
, organic chemicals,
nitrogen oxide Nitrogen oxide may refer to a binary compound of oxygen and nitrogen, or a mixture of such compounds: Charge-neutral *Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen(II) oxide, or nitrogen monoxide * Nitrogen dioxide (), nitrogen(IV) oxide * Nitrogen trioxide (), o ...
s and other compounds. The smoke and dust from wildfires can also contain gases such as
sulfur dioxide Sulfur dioxide (IUPAC-recommended spelling) or sulphur dioxide (traditional Commonwealth English) is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless gas with a pungent smell that is responsible for the odor of burnt matches. It is r ...
and
formaldehyde Formaldehyde ( , ) (systematic name methanal) is an organic compound with the chemical formula and structure , more precisely . The compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as ...
, as well as
particulates Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspension (chemistry), suspended in the atmosphere of Earth, air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate ...
such as ash and
silica Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant f ...
. In California high levels of
heavy metals upright=1.2, Crystals of lead.html" ;"title="osmium, a heavy metal nearly twice as dense as lead">osmium, a heavy metal nearly twice as dense as lead Heavy metals is a controversial and ambiguous term for metallic elements with relatively h ...
, including
lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...
,
arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol As and atomic number 33. It is a metalloid and one of the pnictogens, and therefore shares many properties with its group 15 neighbors phosphorus and antimony. Arsenic is not ...
,
cadmium Cadmium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, silvery-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12 element, group 12, zinc and mercury (element), mercury. Like z ...
, and copper were found in the ash debris after
wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
s. The concentration of heavy metals in the air of surrounding areas also increased significantly in the hours following a fire.


Joss paper and incense burning

Burning of
joss paper Joss paper, also known as incense papers, are papercrafts or sheets of paper made into burnt offerings common in Chinese ancestral worship (such as the veneration of the deceased family members and relatives on holidays and special occasions). ...
and the
soot Soot ( ) is a mass of impure carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. Soot is considered a hazardous substance with carcinogenic properties. Most broadly, the term includes all the particulate matter produced b ...
and ash produced is an important source of air pollution. The amount of pollution (e.g., smoke) produced can vary with the material used to make the joss paper goods. Analysis of the contents of ash samples from Vietnam and Singapore (as well as the chemical composition of
rainwater Rain is a form of precipitation where water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Eart ...
for the latter) shows that
joss paper Joss paper, also known as incense papers, are papercrafts or sheets of paper made into burnt offerings common in Chinese ancestral worship (such as the veneration of the deceased family members and relatives on holidays and special occasions). ...
burning can emit many pollutants detrimental to air quality. There is a significant amount of
heavy metals upright=1.2, Crystals of lead.html" ;"title="osmium, a heavy metal nearly twice as dense as lead">osmium, a heavy metal nearly twice as dense as lead Heavy metals is a controversial and ambiguous term for metallic elements with relatively h ...
in the dust fume and bottom ash, e.g.,
aluminium Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
,
iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...
,
manganese Manganese is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese was first isolated in the 1770s. It is a transition m ...
,
copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
,
lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...
,
zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...
and
cadmium Cadmium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, silvery-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12 element, group 12, zinc and mercury (element), mercury. Like z ...
. A 2017 Taiwan study stated that both indoor and outdoor ambient mercury concentrations increased significantly with worship activities. As of 2014 Taiwan "has the highest density (0.34 temples/km2) of temples in the world". In 2003, researchers in Malaysia sent two joss paper samples (unburnt) to
SIRIM SIRIM Berhad, formerly known as the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM), is a corporate organization owned wholly by the Malaysian Government, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI). It has been entrusted by t ...
to analyse the metallic contents and found that different types of heavy metals such as lead,
tin Tin is a chemical element; it has symbol Sn () and atomic number 50. A silvery-colored metal, tin is soft enough to be cut with little force, and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort. When bent, a bar of tin makes a sound, the ...
, copper, zinc and
arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol As and atomic number 33. It is a metalloid and one of the pnictogens, and therefore shares many properties with its group 15 neighbors phosphorus and antimony. Arsenic is not ...
were present. "Burning of joss paper accounted for up to 42% of the atmospheric rBC efractory black carbonmass, higher than traffic (14-17%), crop residue (10-17%), coal (18-20%) during the Hanyi festival in northwest China", according to a 2022 study, "the overall air quality can be worsened due to the practice ... which is not just confined to the people who do the burning," and it is "common in China and most Asian countries with similar traditions." A research conducted by local university have investigated 366 temples in Hong Kong that have burning activities and found that the levels of PM2.5 (fine
particulates Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspension (chemistry), suspended in the atmosphere of Earth, air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate ...
) both inside and outside the temples far exceeded air quality standards. "Incense burning in temples, which, despite its significant impact on ambient air pollution, has been largely neglected by the public and is not included in the measurement of air quality index." and can pose significant ... risks to the neighbourhood. It also suggested that better urban planning are needed. People burn joss paper during many occasions, e.g.,
Lunar New Year Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars or, informally, lunisolar calendars. Lunar calendar years begin with a new moon and have a fixed number of lunar months, usually twelve, in contrast to lunisolar calendar ye ...
,
Ghost Festival The Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism and the Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, is a traditional festival held in certain East Asia, East and Southeast Asian countries. According to the Lunar c ...
,
Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival (for other names, see § Etymology) is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid- ...
, Dongzhi (
Winter solstice The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's geographical pole, poles reaches its maximum axial tilt, tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere, Northern and So ...
),
Qingming Festival The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English (sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestors' Day, the Clear Brightness Festival, or the Pure Brightness Festival), is a traditional Chines ...
,
Chongyang Festival The Double Ninth Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. According to Wu Jun, it dates back to the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD). According to the ''I Ching'', ''nine' ...
,
Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival ( zh, s=端午节, t=端午節, first=t, p=Duānwǔ jié, cy=Dyūnńgh jit) is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or earl ...
, Hanyi Festival, Tin Hau Festival, etc. It is a common practice in public housing estates. In around 2003 the housing authority began to place burning containers in designated open spaces of all public housing estates during festivals for people to burn joss paper, in an attempt to “prevent nuisance” results from tenants burning joss paper and incense outside their flats (e.g., in corridors, stairs, etc.), although such practice by premises operators is now discouraged by the EPD. Other types of worshiping activities suggested by the EPD includes “offering flower and fruit, electronic offering, electronic worshipping, lucky ribbon etc.”.


Open burning

Opening buring is not uncommon in Hong Kong.


Open burning of wastes

In Hong Kong, open burning of wastes is illegal and is regulated by the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. Open burning of wastes can generate "excessive emissions of pollutants such as dense and odorous smoke, dust, and toxic fumes".


Construction


Construction sites

A 2017 study from the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU or HKPU) is a public research university in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The university is one of the eight government-funded degree-granting tertiary institutions in Hong Kong. Founded in 1937 a ...
stated that "In Hong Kong ... one of the significant pollution and emission sources, heavy construction equipment, powered by diesel engines, emit toxic pollutants including CO, NOx, HC, particulate matter, as well as CO2. Recent regulations on emission compliance for non-road mobile machinery are mainly targeted at equipment newly imported to Hong Kong. Complete replacement of the current stock of 11,300 units working on construction sites will take many years due to their long service lives."


Fuel combustion

The main cause of air pollution at busy streets are motor vehicles.
Diesel exhaust Diesel exhaust is the exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine, plus any contained particulates. Its composition may vary with the fuel type, rate of consumption or speed of engine operation (e.g., idling or at speed or under load), and whether ...
from trucks, buses and light buses is the most concerning as they produce a large amount of particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Pollutants can be trapped between high-rise buildings, making this kind of roadside air pollution more difficult to dissipate. Marine vessels including cruise liners and container ships are also main contributors to air pollution, emitting pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates. “Local shipowners are being encouraged to install shore-power connectors or convert their vessels to alternative fuels, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG)”. Other options such as the use of electric vessels are also being considered. As per the Clean Air Network, 53% of Hong Kong's pollution comes from local sources –
power stations A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...
, idling engines of cars, trucks and buses and marine emissions . Hong Kong has only 5% of the land of the Pearl River Delta, but it creates 20% of its pollution, far more than its neighbouring cities of
Shenzhen Shenzhen is a prefecture-level city in the province of Guangdong, China. A Special economic zones of China, special economic zone, it is located on the east bank of the Pearl River (China), Pearl River estuary on the central coast of Guangdong ...
and
Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...
. A large portion of this pollution comes from
coal-fired power station A coal-fired power station or coal power plant is a thermal power station which burns coal to generate electricity. Worldwide there are about 2,500 coal-fired power stations, on average capable of generating a gigawatt each. They generate ...
s in Hong Kong and vehicular traffic. A significant contribution wafts down from the tens of thousands of factories in China's neighboring manufacturing heartland of the Pearl River Delta. The two major electricity companies of Hong Kong, namely China Light and Power and HK Electric Holdings emit more than 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into Hong Kong's air daily. At 275 vehicles per kilometer, Hong Kong also has among the highest density of vehicles in the world.


Use of illegal fuels

In 2023, the number of illegal refuelling stations are increasing, likely due to the higher prices at legal stations.


Waste management

Landfill A landfill is a site for the disposal of waste materials. It is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal, although the systematic burial of waste with daily, intermediate and final covers only began in the 1940s. In the past, waste was ...
,
waste incineration Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials. Industrial plants for waste incineration are commonly referred to as waste-to-energy facilities. Incineration and other high ...
,
sewage sludge treatment Sewage sludge treatment describes the processes used to manage and dispose of sewage sludge produced during sewage treatment. Sludge treatment is focused on reducing sludge weight and volume to reduce transportation and disposal costs, and on redu ...
and
wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment is a process which removes and eliminates contaminants from wastewater. It thus converts it into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle. Once back in the water cycle, the effluent creates an acceptable impact on ...
(including leachate treatment and
sewage treatment Sewage treatment is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable to discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water p ...
) are sources of air pollution in Hong Kong.


Fireworks and firecrackers

Fireworks can cause air pollution. Both legal and illegal fireworks are common in Hong Kong, especially during Lunar New Year. Places with legal firework displays include Victoria Harbour and Disneyland. As of 2022, illegal use of fireworks and firecrackers are common, while "illegal possession or discharge of fireworks and firecrackers carries maximum penalty of six months in jail and HK$25,000 fine".


Regional

Hong Kong's air quality is influenced by regional air pollution.


Air-quality monitoring


Air Quality Health Index

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is the replacement of the Air Pollution Index (API). It provides air pollution information to the public and was introduced on 30 December 2013.


Air Pollution Index - EPD

The
Environmental Protection Department Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is a department of Hong Kong Government concerning the issues of environmental protection in Hong Kong. The EPD is responsible for developing policies covering environmental protection, nature conser ...
(EPD) in Hong Kong was established to solve problems and provide for a long lasting acceptable level of air quality.6.4 Air Quality Objectives - Environment Hong Kong 2006
Environmental Protection Department Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is a department of Hong Kong Government concerning the issues of environmental protection in Hong Kong. The EPD is responsible for developing policies covering environmental protection, nature conser ...
, Accessed 2007-05-22
In June 1995, instead of adopting internationally accepted benchmark index for pollution, it set up the Air Pollution Index as an indicator to pollution levels, both "General" and "Roadside". Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) for seven widespread air pollutants were established in 1987 under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO), and have not been reviewed since it was set up. It is not clear how the levels are determined. In October 2005, ''Task Force on Air Pollution'' criticised the Government for deluding itself with a pollution index that is a "meaningless" indicator of health risks. Professor Wong Tze-wai, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented that the current air pollution index "gives a false sense of security". Gary Wong, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Department of Paediatrics and School of Public Health, said that under the current index, "some harmful pollution components aren't even recorded". In addition, he pointed out that there is no strategic plan or a timetable to tackle the problem, unlike in other countriesAlbert Wong
Our air is killing us
, The Standard, 29 October 2005
Street-level air quality regularly falls short of the government's Air Quality Objectives (AQOs), and even further short of the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines, revised in October. Academics called for Hong Kong Government to immediately update its air quality objectives set almost twenty years ago.Tsang hit for `naive' comments
, Mimi Lau,
The Standard The Standard may refer to: Entertainment * The Standard (band), an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon * ''The Standard'' (novel), a 1934 novel by the Austrian writer Alexander Lernet-Holenia * ''The Standard'' (Tommy Flanagan album), 1980 * ...
, 28 November 2006 (quoted during the Business for Clear Air conference)
For example, on 19 and 20 November 2006, roadside levels of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs – equivalent to PM10) exceeded the WHO guidelines by at least 300 per cent. Prof Anthony Hedley of the University of Hong Kong said in September 2007 that if Hong Kong's Air Pollution Index was based on WHO recommended levels, our readings would be "absolutely sky high" for most of the year.Pollution index based on index set 20 years ago, p5, South China Morning Post, 30 September 2007 Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao, Sarah Liao Sau-tung said the WHO targets were too stringent. Air quality monitoring by the department are carried out by 11 general stations and three roadside stations. On 8 March 2012, the department started reporting data on fine suspended particulates in the air on an hourly basis, that are a leading component of smog. It began regular monitoring of PM2.5 levels, which measure particles 2.5 micrometres (μm) in diameter or less, at three stations since 2005, but the data were never publicized.


Real Air Pollution Index - Greenpeace

In September 2008, Greenpeace East Asia's Hong Kong office launched its "Real Air Pollution Index" as part of a campaign to get the government to update the Air Pollution Index to match World Health Organization, WHO guidelines. The Real Air Pollution Index reports hourly pollution levels from 15 monitoring stations across the region and compares them to WHO standards?


Indoor air quality

There has been reports of serious air quality problems in government buildings (e.g., legislative council complex and public libraries) and university.


Actions implemented


HoHoSkips

HoHoSkips is a trade-led pilot scheme funded by the government to aid construction waste collection. It was started in early 2021. “Members of the public and the renovation trade can book, through the mobile application 'HoHoSkips', the services of recyclers to collect small quantities of construction waste generated from renovation works."


Tackling power plant emissions

To tackle the pollution from power plants, various measures have been taken. Building of new coal-fired generating unit by the two power companies have been banned by the government starting from 1997. New limits (caps) on pollutants emission have also been set by the government to improve air quality since 2008. In order to meet the requirements the two power companies have taken multiple steps, for example, add flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) and denitrification systems for coal-fired units; use more low-emission coal and natural gas when generating electricity; replace old coal-fired units with new gas-fired units; increase “electricity intake from the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station”; and improve existing gas-fired units to reduce NOx emission and increase thermal efficiency.


Switch to cleaner motor fuels

All HK taxis and PLBs now run on LPG.


Incentives for scrapping pre-Euro IV vehicles

In 2014, an ex gratia payment scheme was introduced to encourage vehicle-owners to scrap about 82,000 pre-Euro VI vehicles. This included a Citybus (Hong Kong), Citybus AEC Routemaster, which attracted controversy for its resulting Heritage conservation in Hong Kong, loss of transport heritage.


Historical actions discussed


July 2006 Action Blue Sky Campaign

The Action Blue Sky Campaign was an environmental campaign organised by the
Environmental Protection Department Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is a department of Hong Kong Government concerning the issues of environmental protection in Hong Kong. The EPD is responsible for developing policies covering environmental protection, nature conser ...
, and launched by Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Chief Executive
Donald Tsang Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (; born 7 October 1944) is a former Hong Kong civil servant who served as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012. Tsang joined the colonial civil service as an Executive Officer in 1967, occupyi ...
in July 2006. Its campaign slogan in Chinese was "全城投入 為藍天打氣" ("''Let all of the city join in to fight for a blue sky''"), while its campaign slogan in English is "Clean Air for a Cool Hong Kong!" The campaign hoped to win support from the public as well as the business community, including those businesses investing in the Pearl River Delta, Pearl River Delta Region.


November 2007 vehicle idling ban

In November 2007, the government launched a public consultation on the proposal which would impose a fixed penalty of HK$320 on drivers who would violate a Idle reduction, ban on idling, with taxi and public light bus, minibus drivers likely to bear the brunt of the ban. The government said its action is due to the failure of motorists to heed many past campaigns switch off engines while waiting. Taxi and minibus drivers were opposed to the proposal. It is illegal for any driver to leave their engine running if they get out of their vehicle. The courts have been awarding fines of HK$700. It is also illegal for taxis to loiter and minibuses to stop longer than necessary to pick up or put down passengers. It is also illegal to park anywhere except in a designated parking place. This means that the vast majority of drivers who idle their engines are already in violation of at least one existing traffic safety law. However, traffic wardens are under strict policy guidelines not to give out any tickets unless there has already developed a "serious" obstruction of the roadway or there have been multiple complaints made by the public; this is the "Selective Traffic Enforcement Policy" (STEP). Traffic safety policing of idling vehicles, therefore, falls to private organisations like "mini spotters" who act as volunteer traffic wardens, making statements to police that can be prosecuted without traffic wardens having to issue tickets directly to the transport trade.


2008–09 Budget measures

In the 2008–09 Budget, Financial Secretary (Hong Kong), Financial Secretary John Tsang proposed a 100 per cent profit tax deduction for capital expenditure on environmentally friendly machinery and equipment in the first year of purchase, to encourage the business community to go green. He also suggested shortening the depreciation period of this equipment from the usual 25 years to 5 years. Neither proposal was actually passed.


New goals for 2014

In January 2014, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah announced that the HK government would update its air quality objectives, put in place in 1990, bringing them closer to WHO guidelines. According to the proposals, which will be set through legislation but have yet to be approved, seven types of emissions will be monitored. Respirable and fine particulates will also be monitored, but less stringently due to their more pronounced health impact. Targets set for three of the seven environmental pollutants are to be based on the WHO's loosest interim targets. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead would be subject to monitoring. Monitoring of
particulates Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspension (chemistry), suspended in the atmosphere of Earth, air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate ...
smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) would be introduced under the proposals, but will be loosest of the three WHO interim targets. Yau asserted some local pollution had roots in mainland China, but did not mention any ongoing dialogue to address the issue with mainland authorities. Yau also did not address roadside pollution in Hong Kong. In total, 22 measures in all were suggested to contribute towards meeting the new objectives. Such measures would include phasing out heavily polluting vehicles, promoting hybrid or electric vehicles, and increasing the use of natural gas, but no actions have yet to be taken. Environmental impact assessments of projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge were conducted and approved under the old air-quality guidelines. Mike Kilburn from Civic Exchange and Professor Hedley of the University of Hong Kong expressed their disappointment, saying that it too little, and too long overdue. Kilburn said: "It is a move that we have been waiting years for but we are extremely disappointed as the objectives are not strict enough to make any positive impact on air quality."Foo, Kenneth (18 January 2012)
"Clearing the air"
. ''The Standard''.
Other environmental activists shared little hope in government efforts to reduce pollution and lamented the half-hearted implementation of measures, and the elusiveness of timetable for meeting the most stringent objectives.


See also

* Brain health and pollution * Clear waters and green mountains * Heavy metals (e.g., present in
lead paint Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead. As pigment, lead(II) chromate (, "chrome yellow"), lead(II,IV) oxide, (, "red lead"), and lead(II) carbonate (, "white lead") are the most common forms.. Lead is added to paint to acceler ...
dust, Welding#Quality, welding fumes, certain types of Manganese#Gasoline, fuel, Microplastics#Sources, microplastics, Electronic waste#Environmental impact, electronic wastes, Wildfire#Airborne hazards, ash from wildfire and
joss paper Joss paper, also known as incense papers, are papercrafts or sheets of paper made into burnt offerings common in Chinese ancestral worship (such as the veneration of the deceased family members and relatives on holidays and special occasions). ...
burning, etc.) * Microplastics#Construction and renovation * Substance-induced psychosis


References


Notes

* * * *


Further reading

* * * * *


News articles


In Chinese

* 2016年 ―
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揮發性有機化合物含量超標油漆進口商罪成罰款1.4萬元
* 2019年5月30
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External links


Short Term Air Quality Risks. AQHI and Contributing Pollutant.Visibility Readings in Hong Kong Waters


*[http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/ Environmental Protection Department]
Indoor Air Quality Information Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Air Pollution in Hong Kong Environment of Hong Kong Air pollution in China Air pollution by region Articles containing video clips