Voice out for fresh air!
Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment, has admitted in public last month that the Air Quality Objectives (AQO) is outdated. But it is not yet a victory for those who care about our air quality, as the government has not till now promised to revise the AQO according to World Health Organization’s standard.
Poor air quality brings various health impacts. For example, sulphur dioxide can impair our respiratory function, aggravate existing respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. The respirable suspended particulates, i.e., particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, are able to reach and deposit themselves deep in the lung and cause breathing and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.