Hong Kong, March 4, 2021 – Driven by the shortcomings of the Hong Kong AQHI pollution index, Embee has launched a comprehensive air pollution monitoring site, providing timely, accurate and actionable advice for Hong Kong residents and schools.
Embee has written extensively about the inadequacies of the AQHI index, and its unsuitability as an indicator for timing outdoor activities. A detailed write-up on the subject can be found here:
Ms. Chung, a spokesperson for Embee said:
“The EPD helpfully publishes the AQHI for each district, but the index lags current conditions and the advice given does not account for different individual pollutant levels, which can have very different effects depending on age and existing medical conditions.”
Compounding the problem, pollutant levels are only provided for the 18 environmental monitoring stations, making it difficult to assess local conditions for those not in close proximity to an existing station.
Customised advice for every Hong Kong primary and secondary school
To overcome these issues, Embee’s site utilises the U.S. AQI standard, adjusted to include the most recent particulate pollution levels, to better reflect Hong Kong’s sometimes rapidly changing conditions. Combined with data from the Hong Kong GeoData Store and utilising spatial interpolation techniques, the site provides customised advice and AQI readings for over 1000 Hong Kong primary and secondary school locations, in addition to the 18 EPD monitoring stations.
The site is the first of its kind to offer actionable health advice for residents and schools based on aggregated, science-backed U.S. EPA/CDC pollutant level recommendations, providing simple messaging for understanding what precautions should be taken, when, and by whom.
To view the site, head to www.embee.hk/pollution
About Embee
Embee is an Australian owned, Hong Kong based manufacturer and retailer of affordable, medical grade replacement filters for IQAir® purifiers.
Embee was created by a group of Hong Kong based Australian expatriates that wanted to provide the healthiest possible living environment for their families, while reducing the expensive operating costs of high-quality air purifiers.
In addition to filtration products, Embee maintains an hourly updated air pollution information portal for Hong Kong residents and schools, providing actionable information based on internationally recognised air quality standards.
Main site: www.embee.hk
Pollution site: www.embee.hk/pollution
