Hong Kong air pollution hits highest level

Hong Kong’s air pollution reached the highest level in a government gauge with “serious” levels forecast during the remainder of the week.
The pollution, as measured by the Air Quality Health Index, recorded the highest reading of 10-plus at three monitoring stations, according to the Environmental Protection Department website. Nitrogen dioxide levels have also jumped.
Light winds in city areas will hinder the dispersion of pollutants while smog in southern China will bring “very high” or “serious” health risks during afternoons this week, the statement showed.
Poor roadside air quality presents the biggest daily health threat to Hong Kong’s 7.2 million people, according to the government’s clean-air plan published last year. Nitrogen dioxide, mostly formed from vehicles in roadside areas, has been linked to damaged lung function in children and asthma attacks. Jonathan Browning