EPA TO REGULATE FINE PARTICLES IN AIR

A group of doctors recently made an open request for the government to regulate the amount of fine particles PM2.5 in the air for the protection of pregnant women and infants. And the EPA responded that a public hearing on the issue will soon be held later this month.

While allergies can be easily caused by season changes, fine particle matter, commonly known as PM2.5 can be even more threatening as long-term exposure of which may lead to cardiovascular diseases.

Days before Mother's Day, a group of doctors has taken a pledge to ask the authorities to pay attention to the air pollution issue since fine particle matter has even greater health risks for infants and pregnant women.

According to the monitoring data of the Environmental Protection Administration, in the past three months, only Taipei City had 20 days of fine air quality.

Other cities and counties had none of such day and yet their density of PM2.5 was shockingly high.

So far, the EPA only has a reference value for ultrafine particles without a penalty guideline

The US EPA strengthened its PM2.5 standards, decreasing 24-hour limits from 65 to 35 milligrams per cubic meter.

But Taiwan still followed the American standard in 1997.

The Environmental Protection Administration says it will convene public hearings to invite scholars, experts and public members to define a control standard for fine particle matters.

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