Lowering Pollution Levels, Healing Communities

Government measures to control air pollution are working in Taiwan.

90 percent of air quality observation stations have reported a decline in PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, reports the National Health Research Institutes.

What’s more, according to associate investigator Chen Yu-Chen, lung cancer has dropped by 4.26 per cent, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has fallen by 6.91 per cent, ischemic heart disease by 6.56 per cent, and strokes by 7.31 per cent. However, for Taiwan to reach the United Nations’ green sustainable development goals, the mortality rate caused by PM2.5 must be less than or equal to 18 per 100,000 people, a standard that has not yet been met within the country. Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment is studying the most recent report and will soon revise the country’s air quality standards even more in an effort to further lower pollution and provide a better quality of life for the locals.