Bel-Air Air Quality



ORIGINAL POST
Posted by thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
I'm a mum in Bel Air in Pokfulam with a 2 year old. I've been curious about the air quality here as we don't get quite as many cars as Central but we also don't show up on the HK AQHI or HK Air apps. So I borrowed an air quality monitor that shows the particulate readings per litre of air for PM0.3 and PM2.5. I'm going to post those readings in this thread every day for a month as an experiment, for any who are interested.


The WHO threshold for no negative health effects is less than 60K particles per litre of air for fine dust particles less than 0.3 microns in size.


At 130 today the readings were:


Balcony outside:

0.3micron ppL: 159K

2.5micron ppL 183


Guest room (no filters but with door open and master room filter on max)

0.3micron ppL: 98K

2.5micron ppL: 92


Daughter's room (one filter on max, door closed)

0.3micron ppL: 11K

2.5micron ppL: 0

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COMMENTS
thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1400 outside


0.3micron ppL: 152K

2.5micron ppL 1256

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 354K

2.5micron ppL 3922

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0930 outside


0.3micron ppL: 157K

2.5micron ppL 2722

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punter 10 yrs ago
Any comments on this readings? They look quite high.

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Celberg 10 yrs ago
typical hong kong,nothing will change,chase the money,kids will be ok - haha

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0900 outside


0.3micron ppL: 246K

2.5micron ppL: 3129

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0930 outside


0.3micron ppL: 119K

2.5micron ppL: 553

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 195K

2.5micron ppL: 3224

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Slammy 10 yrs ago
Curious to know how many air purifiers you have at home and if you want to measure indoor air quality in your lounge room with the windows shut...?


What brand air purifier do you use in your daughter's room?

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0900 outside


0.3micron ppL: 108K

2.5micron ppL: 1258

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Sorry I forgot to post this morning so I have just done another reading as it looks quite horrid out there!


Today at 1700 outside


0.3micron ppL: 299K

2.5micron ppL : 2677

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 114K

2.5micron ppL : 1137

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0800 outside


0.3micron ppL: 282K

2.5micron ppL : 2541

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0900 outside


0.3micron ppL: 337K

2.5micron ppL : 5180

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 298K

2.5micron ppL : 1623

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Hi Slammy - we use Alen Air Paralda in my daughter's room. We have one in our lounge (a more powerful one, about to be two as then won't need the one on full blast - they can both be on medium setting), Paralda in our room and Paralda in my daughter's room. If i could do it again I would get the A375 rather than the paralda. It would mean I could have it on a quieter setting rather than on the high setting (we usually need it on full blast with the doors shut). We always have our windows shut unless there has been a huge rain (since the pollution goes way down after a rain).

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 249K

2.5micron ppL : 1661


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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 330K

2.5micron ppL : 3361

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside


0.3micron ppL: 243K

2.5micron ppL : 2733

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cookie09 10 yrs ago
actually how do you make these readings? what measure you use?

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago


Today at 0900 outside


0.3micron ppL: 371K

2.5micron ppL : 3238

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0900 outside


0.3micron ppL: 265K

2.5micron ppL : 1874

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UStoHKExpat 10 yrs ago
The machine she uses is measuring particle count per cubic foot. Also, the 0.3 measure will include the 2.5 measure. As such, the numbers won't represent similar numbers to those provided by the government, but they are comparable with the right math.

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
I'm using an air quality counter called Dylos.


These readings (same as little whale) are particles per litre of air of 0.3micron particles and 2.5micron particles. However, the measures you see on the government AQHI app are microgram per meter cubed - a different set of measurements. The first measures the number of a particular size dust particle found in a litre of air, whereas the other (done by AQHI) measures the weight of all those dust particles in one metre cubed of air (FYI one metre cubed is equivalent to 1000 litres). I have the equivalent measures for the 0.3 micron size particles but not the 2.5 micron readings. Will see if I can find them for your reference and post here.


If you see fine dust by weight, this is the corresponding weight to particles per litre of air thresholds for 0.3micron particles (ug is microgram)

60k ppL - 20ug/m3

105k ppL - 35ug/m3

150ppL - 50ug/m3

300ppL - 100ug/m3

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 255K

2.5micron ppL : 1066

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 220K

2.5micron ppL : 1243

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 0830 outside

0.3micron ppL: 273K

2.5micron ppL : 1563

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Amazing day!

Today at 1400 outside

0.3micron ppL: 85K

2.5micron ppL : 243

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 830 outside

0.3micron ppL: 169K

2.5micron ppL : 1425

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 130K

2.5micron ppL : 1023

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1130 outside

0.3micron ppL: 248K

2.5micron ppL : 1323

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 118K

2.5micron ppL : 1036

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 945 outside

0.3micron ppL: 158K

2.5micron ppL : 196

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ptang 10 yrs ago
Hi there, thanks for posting the daily readings. They're useful as a reference.


Quick question, I was just looking at the Dylos website and it seems their handheld monitors are listed as between 2.5 microns to 0.5 microns. Are the readings from your Dylos machine actually 0.3 microns?

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&&& 10 yrs ago
A retired chemical engineer in the Environmental Protection Dept in HK sent me this link : http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/guide_ref/guide_aqa_model_g5.html

which you might find of interest. I have not read it yet at this point but thought should convey it promptly.


He made the following points :


- Pls read this regarding the progress of amending the law - Air Pollution Control Ordinance Cap 311 ---- BUT ignore the mathematical transformation from pm10 to pm2.5 in the article.


- HK does not monitor pm 2.5 at this juncture. EPD is still considering amending the law to give effect to that. hk is not monitoring pm2.5 now and is quite far away from that point.


- The Epd department is monitoring pm10 only and is trying to convince people that there is a relationship between pm2.5 and pm 10 and knowing one may know the other. Based on a tiny little experiment it did with both pm2.5 and pm10 equipment side by side, it found the above so called relationship and that hk pm2.5 data were acceptable and hence it asks hk people to be patient (with the usual HKGovt procrastination).


- That assumption of any relationship between the 2 parameters is totally wrong !!!!


- People should be concerned. WHO would not tell government to monitor pm2.5 separate from pm10 if one could derive pm2.5 from pm10.


- Gary Locke, last US Ambassador to China fought for, an won, the pm2.5 indicator to be known to the public. He was coerhsed by BJ not to show the data. He stood firm, to the huge embarrassment of China because no one uses China’s data. She later officially adopted the US Embassy pm2.5 data (that’s from my memory recall. The link here should tell the history accurately: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/06/china-has-no-good-answer-to-the-us-embassy-pollution-monitoring/258447/


- tell her that YES she should be worried because the department is slow in passing the law to monitor pm2.5. Hk has many Diesel engine vehicles that emit particulates 2.5 microns in diameter and many of these vehicles don't have particulate traps. examples of such vehicles are buses, taxis, mini vans (14 sweaters), lorries, etc.


- Having said all that, I cannot comment on the data obtained by bel air mom because air quality equipment are highly sensitive and must be calibrated daily. So I don't know whether the data she obtained are accurate.


I write to salute you for your vigilance and perseverance to post the data. Should contact the NEXT magazine. They have the power to reach scientific institutions (such as the universities) for scientific verifications and may run a story on this which the Govt pays attn to as it reaches many in HK.


I am not a scientist but isn’t Bel Aire right across the 3 chimmeys. Isn’t the chimneys emitting a lot of pollutants ?


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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 137K

2.5micron ppL : 1077

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Thanks &&& really interesting. We do live opposite the chimney stacks, would be interested to know how much is contributed by that and how much by the container ships sailing past us.


Ptang - the Dylos was specifically calibrated for 0.3micron, so yes the readings are for 0.3 microns but normally you are right the ones you buy off the shelf are for 0.5micron.

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 130K

2.5micron ppL : 430

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 68K

2.5micron ppL : 702

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 730 outside

0.3micron ppL: 78K

2.5micron ppL : 392

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 730 outside

0.3micron ppL: 88K

2.5micron ppL : 362

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punter 10 yrs ago
Are strong winds cleaning up HK's air?

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Punter - I actually think it is the rain.


Currently at 645am it is

0.3micron ppL: 10K

2.5micron ppL : 497

outside. If you are one of those people who hesitate opening your windows for fear of the pollution, now is the time to do it!

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 18K

2.5micron ppL : 501

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 332K

2.5micron ppL : 2416

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 830 outside

0.3micron ppL: 280K

2.5micron ppL : 1393

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 350K

2.5micron ppL : 2070

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 815 outside

0.3micron ppL: 170K

2.5micron ppL : 630

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 149K

2.5micron ppL : 670

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 198K

2.5micron ppL : 1018

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1300 outside

0.3micron ppL: 218K

2.5micron ppL : 1319

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1500 outside

0.3micron ppL: 202K

2.5micron ppL : 1847

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1000 outside

0.3micron ppL: 250K

2.5micron ppL : 1650

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1400 outside

0.3micron ppL: 150K

2.5micron ppL : 2000

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 193K

2.5micron ppL : 2193

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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 800 outside

0.3micron ppL: 154K

2.5micron ppL : 542



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thebigsmog 10 yrs ago
Today at 1630 outside

0.3micron ppL: 39K

2.5micron ppL : 75


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