Han Ximin
SHENZHEN S Air Pollution Index (API) average reading hit 125 yesterday, posing a threat to people with heart and respiratory illnesses.
According to yesterday s air pollution report released by the Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory and Shenzhen Environment Monitoring Station, the API in Nanshan was 157, Bao an 148 and Futian 120. The pollutants were mainly exhaust emissions, said the observatory.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 means the air pollution did not pose a health threat, according to Lin, a staff member at the monitoring station. But when the API is between 101 and 200, people with heart and respiratory illnesses could experience aggravated symptoms. When the API is between 201 and 500, even healthy people could experience eye irritation, coughing and sore throats, the observatory said.
I felt discomfort in my throat and it was hard to breathe when I was walking along Shennan Boulevard, because the air quality is so bad, a woman named Zhang working in Futian said yesterday.
The pollution is mainly caused by car emissions, and a lack of wind means the pollutants do not disperse, the observatory said. The city s API was generally good and readings were often between 50 and 80, an observatory official surnamed Chen said yesterday.
The observatory advised people with heart and respiratory illnesses to take precautions and residents to refrain from strenuous outdoor exercise.
The API reading reached 127 Monday with the maximum 186 in Bao an District. The observatory said the situation would begin easing today. The weather would be mainly cloudy with light mist in the second half of the week.
The observatory said the temperature would start falling Saturday and dip to 9 or 8 degrees Celsius Sunday and Monday as a new cold front was expected to affect the city, possibly bringing light rain.
