In order to attain the goal of national PM2.5 red alert poor air quality station days below 499 in 2019, which is part of “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Plan”, the project not only offered weekly/monthly reports regularly, but also provided real-time statistics of changes for trend analysis to EPA. In addition, the air quality statistics and analysis for air quality administrative controls were statistically evaluated and calculated, such as air quality control regions for attainment and nonattainment areas, analysis of the causes of poor air quality days (mainly focused on pollution characteristics of the monitoring station). Moreover, the technology for designating of air quality basins were assessed, we evaluated the major factors for designating the nonattainment areas in the United States (taking Illinois as an example) to estimate the feasibility in Taiwan. Finally, other relevant tasks were completed such as holding administrative conferences and technical supports.
To collect the hourly concentration variation and meteorological data, the characteristics of monitoring stations in western Taiwan were explored (traffic, background, urban, suburban and mountain were analyzed respectively). The concentration of PM2.5, NO2, and CO are higher in urban and traffic stations. However, it shows different results in the suburbs and mountain depending on the terrain and airflow characteristics. For example, the concentration of SO2 is higher in nearby industrial areas. Another example is the height of mountains may block the impact of pollution from spreading and then causes a delayed transmission (It’s why PM2.5 is higher in the evening than morning in Puli).
EPA announced the amendment of “Air Pollution Control Act” in 2018, and the act requires EPA and local governments to propose/update implementation plan for four years (the locals’ plans should take EPA’s plan as a reference and be approved by EPA). The project has assisted to complete EPA’s implementation plan, and has held consultation conferences to gather opinions to improve the quality of the plan already. Based on the enforcement rules of the act, “The Guidelines for State Implementation Plan (SIP)” and “Audit criteria manual” for local governments were also finished.
Particulate substance disaster prevention (response) and other disasters prevention are different. Compared with particulate substance, other disasters prevention consumes more manpower and material resources while the main task of Particulate substance disaster event is to reduce the ambient concentration of high PM. The project completed as follows: 1. Summarized major national and international air pollution incidents. 2. Analyzed related laws and regulations. 3. Updated disaster management white paper for particulate substance and so on.
The project also accomplished as follows: 1. Collected and introduced the latest foreign air quality management technology and major plans in the US. 2. Analyzed foreign air quality indicators, including OECD, Yale EPI, WHO air quality database, the United Nations SDGs, IMD World Competitiveness, World Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report and World Bank data.
