Life of Guangzhou - Eight Cities in P. R. Delta Named Heavy Acid Rain Areas

In the first half of 2008 Guangdong province suffered from acid rain at a frequency of 53.4%, up 7.1% from the first half of 2007, according to the provincial Environmental Protection Bureau on September 4.

(Guangzhou Daily)

The report shows that 14 cities, accounting for two thirds of the province, were affected by acid rain. Eight cities in the Pearl River Delta region including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Zhaoqin, Huizhou and Foshan, as well as Maoming in western Guangdong, were named heavy acid rain areas. The average PH of rainfall in the province reached 4.81, down 0.03% from the first half of 2007. However, the frequency increased by 7.1%.

The concept of a "heavy acid rain area" refers to areas that have rainfall with a PH of less than 4.5, with a frequency of more than 50%.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are thought to be the main causes of acid rain. Chen Guangrong, vice director of the bureau, explained: "From 2006 to the first half of 2008, the emission of sulfur dioxide in the province was reduced to 118 thousand tons, 9.1% less than before. So the main cause of the acid rain might be the nitrogen oxides."

He also said that the increasing number of vehicles adds to the emission of nitrogen oxides. Pollutants from outside Guangdong might cause acid rain as well, in addition to various meteorological factors.

(By Jessie Hwang, Stephen Roach)

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