Air pollution kills 1,600 Hongkongers in first half of 2013

Worsening air pollution caused more than 1,600 premature deaths in the city during the first half of the year, according to a study by an air pollution concern group. The Clean Air Network's research found that levels of four dangerous air pollutants rose in the first six months of 2013 from the same period last year.

All four pollutants - nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulates PM10, fine particulates PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide - also exceeded the World Health Organisation's annual average air quality guidelines at all 14 air monitoring stations citywide, with the exception of nitrogen dioxide levels in Tap Mun.

The study was based on data collected by the Environmental Protection Department from January to June.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide - an important indicator of roadside air pollution - increased by double-digit percentages at 10 of the 14 air monitoring stations. The highest increase was in Central and Western district, where the level rose 22 per cent to 65 micrograms per cubic metre; it was 53mcg last year. The WHO's stipulated safe level is 40mcg. The areas worst hit by roadside pollution remained Central, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. The nitrogen dioxide levels in those areas respectively measured 127, 119 and 118mcg per cubic metre. Kwai Chung suffered the highest level of sulphur dioxide - a key marker of marine emissions. It rose a dramatic 64 per cent to 24mcg per cubic metre. The WHO's safe level is 5mcg.

Clean Air Network chief executive Kwong Sum-yin urged the government to immediately replace old commercial diesel vehicles and restrict marine vessels to fuels with a sulphur content of less than 0.5 per cent at berth.