Taiwan's environmental protection authority issued an air
quality warning for the entire island on Sunday, as a dust storm
from Mongolia and
Inner Mongolia on the Chinese mainland moved in, causing the
amount of fine particulates in the air to rise to abnormal
levels.
According to a report reaching here from Taipei on Sunday, the
department's air monitoring stations reported that the PM10 level
(inhalable particulates 10 microns in diameter or smaller) in the
air had reached 200 micrograms per cubic meter as of 9:00 AM (0100
GMT) on Sunday.
The department said the dust was expected to clear the Taiwan
area early Monday.
They suggested elderly people, children and those with
respiratory problems to stay indoors to avoid inhaling fine dust
particles in the air.
According to the department, the dust storm was formed three
days ago as strong winds picked up fine sand and dry topsoil from
arid regions in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)
