Worried about pollution?
- Thread starter aldricher
- Start date
Did you see the SCMP today? All sorts of pollution articles--people buying gas guzzling cars, theaters with frigid temps, etc.... Time will tell if all the talk is political rhetoric or if something is really going to happen. I guess the larger problem will be the mainland.SyL said:
Dear All
Can't agree more with you about the concerns in HK, therefore the young and old should live in places in HK which are more greener. I would not want to have my BBs living in the middle of TST or Causeway Bay... I'd rather move /have to travel further to work if I need to.
Though cristletips, I would not dispute whether HK is better or worst than any cities in the world. Since 1 city may have more XYZ particles /gems than another, and a different city may have more ABC particles, and so forth...
Though, me as an adult... have had a few usual flu etc... whilst in HK for a continuous period of 6 yrs.
During that time, I visited London for 2 weeks... the first day stepped into London, was having breathing troubles.... as soon as went into the tube station, I was literally choking to death. I'm sure if it caused such chaos to an adult, can't be good for a BB.
Now I've been in London for 2 years... and have had more than the usual flu, serious chest illnesses... I can feel my lungs have been congested with London Pollution... and my lungs have never felt this weak in HK.
Other scenarios with other cities... but wont go on...
Having said that.... do also bear in mind that all the aircons that London uses are NEVER cleaned!! At least in HK, I see the cleaners clean out the filters weekly / monthly, and I will clean the airfilters at home every week during the summer. I have never seen the aircons cleaned in my building, and most people are in an enclosed environment, no opening windows.... imagine what that would do to the people here, let alone our BBs.
Therefore, this is basically from my own experience, and my body reactions... whatever reports / scientific proven are just there for guidance, and possibly bias. So I won't rely my judgement on that. Since every person's body is different and reacts to chemicals / allergies differently.
You can only provide the best for the BBs in the given environment.
Can't agree more with you about the concerns in HK, therefore the young and old should live in places in HK which are more greener. I would not want to have my BBs living in the middle of TST or Causeway Bay... I'd rather move /have to travel further to work if I need to.
Though cristletips, I would not dispute whether HK is better or worst than any cities in the world. Since 1 city may have more XYZ particles /gems than another, and a different city may have more ABC particles, and so forth...
Though, me as an adult... have had a few usual flu etc... whilst in HK for a continuous period of 6 yrs.
During that time, I visited London for 2 weeks... the first day stepped into London, was having breathing troubles.... as soon as went into the tube station, I was literally choking to death. I'm sure if it caused such chaos to an adult, can't be good for a BB.
Now I've been in London for 2 years... and have had more than the usual flu, serious chest illnesses... I can feel my lungs have been congested with London Pollution... and my lungs have never felt this weak in HK.
Other scenarios with other cities... but wont go on...
Having said that.... do also bear in mind that all the aircons that London uses are NEVER cleaned!! At least in HK, I see the cleaners clean out the filters weekly / monthly, and I will clean the airfilters at home every week during the summer. I have never seen the aircons cleaned in my building, and most people are in an enclosed environment, no opening windows.... imagine what that would do to the people here, let alone our BBs.
Therefore, this is basically from my own experience, and my body reactions... whatever reports / scientific proven are just there for guidance, and possibly bias. So I won't rely my judgement on that. Since every person's body is different and reacts to chemicals / allergies differently.
You can only provide the best for the BBs in the given environment.
The London tubes are terrible. Blow your nose after a day or so using the tube and it comes out black. Don't have that problem here.
Anyone know if HK regulates the diesel fuel and/or engines? The newer fuels and engines are supposed to be better for the air and our lungs.
Anyone know if HK regulates the diesel fuel and/or engines? The newer fuels and engines are supposed to be better for the air and our lungs.
It is true that a lot of our pollution comes from China- and a lot of it from factories owned by Hong Kong business men! China needs to do more to address the problem- but that doesn't mean we can get complacent.
There are things we can do to improve our air quality- simple things such as, turning our air cons up a little higher, taking a reusable bag when we go shopping, recycling as much of our rubbish as possible, turning off car engines when waiting, trying to use our cars a little less (or buying hubrids), using energy efficient appliances.
Unfortunetly in HK, as in many places of the world, convenience and laziness comes before working to ease pollution. That's not to say it's easy to do our part in easing HK's pollution- but I for one am terrified by how bad the pollution has got here. What is it going to take to scare people into action?
The HK government typically only reacts to that which threatens HK's economy or reputationas an economic powerhouse and investment hub; hopefully new research and surveys that show how concerned businesses and investors are over the pollution in HK will spur the government into action. But government action alone won't solve the problem, we all have to do our part to!
I don't think it matters how HK's pollution compares to other countires/citites- it is enough that those of us living here find it unbereable and are worried about the risk it poses to our, and our children's health, and that should be enough for us to realise something has to be done.
There are things we can do to improve our air quality- simple things such as, turning our air cons up a little higher, taking a reusable bag when we go shopping, recycling as much of our rubbish as possible, turning off car engines when waiting, trying to use our cars a little less (or buying hubrids), using energy efficient appliances.
Unfortunetly in HK, as in many places of the world, convenience and laziness comes before working to ease pollution. That's not to say it's easy to do our part in easing HK's pollution- but I for one am terrified by how bad the pollution has got here. What is it going to take to scare people into action?
The HK government typically only reacts to that which threatens HK's economy or reputationas an economic powerhouse and investment hub; hopefully new research and surveys that show how concerned businesses and investors are over the pollution in HK will spur the government into action. But government action alone won't solve the problem, we all have to do our part to!
I don't think it matters how HK's pollution compares to other countires/citites- it is enough that those of us living here find it unbereable and are worried about the risk it poses to our, and our children's health, and that should be enough for us to realise something has to be done.
Here's a graph from cleartheair.org.hk showing how this city compares to other major ones we might live in. It's simply not true that HK-style pollution is essential if you want to live in a city. http://www.cleartheair.org.hk/images/RSPmajorcities2003.gif
Here are some studies linking air pollution to birth defects:
http://www.entlink.net/education/resources/birthdefects.cfm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/pregnant021605.cfm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/502466
So if you're going to base the views you voice on the "feelings" you get about different cities, and your concept that pollution is only better in "rural areas" then please bear in mind that you may be contributing to the government and corporate inaction that ultimately harms my baby, as well as your own.
Here are some studies linking air pollution to birth defects:
http://www.entlink.net/education/resources/birthdefects.cfm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/pregnant021605.cfm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/502466
So if you're going to base the views you voice on the "feelings" you get about different cities, and your concept that pollution is only better in "rural areas" then please bear in mind that you may be contributing to the government and corporate inaction that ultimately harms my baby, as well as your own.
London, worst polluted city in Europe
Check out this:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-10325616-details/Pollution+at+danger+levels/article.do;jsessionid=2QBLGmHPhkMRx5p7bcnPjVKrcYgq5GzCDpRbR1Qxkh12syppqzKz!-556469505
:bawling:
Check out this:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-10325616-details/Pollution+at+danger+levels/article.do;jsessionid=2QBLGmHPhkMRx5p7bcnPjVKrcYgq5GzCDpRbR1Qxkh12syppqzKz!-556469505
:bawling:
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pollution
it's not just the air that bothers me. My 5 year olds want to go swimming in the ocean, but I am very hestitant. I can see the trash floating in the water and we met a neighbor who got an infection from swimming.
I moved here from California and am appalled at the lack of recycling. I don't know where Hong Kong can store all of the trash produced. In California we recycled more than we threw out in the trash. It's hard for me to stick everything in the trash, knowing it's just going to a landfill.
I feel the culture here is more focues on profit and that may be why recycling is so limited.
it's not just the air that bothers me. My 5 year olds want to go swimming in the ocean, but I am very hestitant. I can see the trash floating in the water and we met a neighbor who got an infection from swimming.
I moved here from California and am appalled at the lack of recycling. I don't know where Hong Kong can store all of the trash produced. In California we recycled more than we threw out in the trash. It's hard for me to stick everything in the trash, knowing it's just going to a landfill.
I feel the culture here is more focues on profit and that may be why recycling is so limited.