What AQHI should I refer to?
The health effects of air pollution depend on the concentrations of the air pollutants and the duration of exposure. Exposure to moderately high pollution levels for a short period of time normally will not lead to significant health problem.
The general AQHI is more relevant to most of us as it represents the air pollution that we are exposed to for most of the time. The roadside AQHI is relevant to those who spend several hours continuously in a day in busy streets.
At present, EPD operates 15 general air quality monitoring stations and 3 roadside air quality monitoring stations respectively. Data from these stations will be used for reporting general AQHI and roadside AQHI respectively.
Areas of similar land uses will have similar air pollution levels. If you live in a district that does not have an air quality monitoring station, you may refer to the AQHI measured by the corresponding station as shown in the table below:
General Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station |
Characteristics of the Area Where the Station is Located |
District(s) Represented by the Station | |
1. | Central/Western | Urban: densely populated residential area with commercial developments | Central and Western, Wan Chai |
2. | Southern | Urban: densely populated residential area | Southern |
3. | Eastern | Urban: densely populated residential area | Eastern |
4. | Kwun Tong | Urban: densely populated residential area with mixed commercial/industrial developments | Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin |
5. | Sham Shui Po | Urban: densely populated residential area with commercial developments | Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City |
6. | Kwai Chung | Urban: densely populated residential area with mixed commercial/industrial developments | Kwai Tsing |
7. | Tsuen Wan | Urban: densely populated residential area with mixed commercial/industrial developments | Tsuen Wan |
8. | Tseung Kwan O | Urban: densely populated residential area with mixed commercial/industrial developments | Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung |
9. | Yuen Long | New town: residential area | Yuen Long (including Tin Shui Wai) |
10. | Tuen Mun | New town: residential area | Tuen Mun |
11. | Tung Chung | New town: residential area | Islands |
12. | Tai Po | New town: residential area | Tai Po |
13. | Sha Tin | New town: residential area | Sha Tin |
14. | North | New town: residential area | North |
15. | Tap Mun | Rural |