This project provided the weekly and monthly reports by analyzing air quality monitored data for the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. In 2013, the ratio of PSI>100 was 1.53% with higher PM10、PM2.5、O3 concentrations as comparing to the last year’s. However, the concentrations were still lower than those averages of the recent five years. The FRM monitored PM2.5 concentrations has an average of 23.8μg/m3 in the period of January to November, 2013. The slopes and intercepts of 30 paired FEM and FRM monitors were tested against the US EPA FEM protocol, and 8 FEM monitors met the requirements for the regression analysis of testing specification..
The cause analysis of PM air quality in Yun-Lin County showed the trans boundary PM transport, regional high wind dust, and the worsening PM2.5 air quality were the major contributors. There were 21 monitor-days caused by the regional high wind dust under the meteorological conditions such as the outer circulation of typhoons and northeast monsoon during January-November 2013. The 2013 ozone data from the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations, PAMS were analyzed during the air pollution episodes. During the ozone episodes, toluene, n-butane, m-xylene and p-xylene were the potential ozone species and occurred in the early morning of the episode day. The audits of emission data were accomplished for the point, area and line sources, the meetings with the emissions inventory workgroup were conducted and the suggestions and recommendations were provided.
In the cause analysis of the PM10 concentrations, the gasoline consumption, number of tourists, number of cars showed positive correlation; the rainfall volume and rainy days, relative humidity showed negative correlation with PM10. The PM10 concentrations from the World Bank, predicted for the cities in Taiwan, were obtained to calculate “Your Better Life Index”. The important international air pollution regulations were reviewed and organized to assist EPA developing future strategies. “The Guidelines for Air Pollution Control Plan and Protocols” was revised and “The Annual Assessment Report of Air Pollution Control in Taiwan for 2011” was proposed. Aiming the goal to reach PM2.5 annual standard in year 2020, this project performed the air basins analyses including: possible year of attainment, plans for the impact of future development, and analysis of the effectiveness of control strategies within the capped emissions.
This project utilizes the air quality models to simulate control strategies and to measure the effectiveness of control; the west region of Taiwan would have a significant improvement in PM concentrations if major controls were implemented. The influences from meteorological conditions played important roles in ozone episode. In PM episodes, the magnitude of emissions would be the major influence. Using the BenMap and the monitored 2007-2010 PM2.5 data, the all-cause mortality due to air quality changes was estimated for its impact.
Other tasks of this project included: completed the Land/Air Compliance Inspections and reported 18 suspected cases, and 2 enforcement cases; held information exchange workshops with the local Environmental Protection Bureaus in Hsin-Chu County, Hsin-Chu City and Mao-Li County; proposed the guidance to screen out the influence days from dust storms; assisted the Emergency Management for the Prevention of Air Quality Deterioration meetings and proposed future revision; proposed the SOP for the Alert and Inspection Criteria during PM2.5 Episodes; updated the contact information for the emergency management system and reported to all contacts during the episodes; reviewed the structure of the US Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, CASAC, and proposed the similar advisory committee to review/establish the ambient air quality standards and control strategies in Taiwan; completed other tasks as required and updated the EPA web pages.
