pollution

Oil spill from sunken freighter contaminates popular bathing beach in southern Taiwan

tourists affected by oil spill on beach
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , , ,

Beachgoers at Cijin Beach in Kaohsiung City yesterday were affected by an oil slick suspected to have come from a container ship that sank off the coast more than one month ago. Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen was hosting an event promoting the wearing of lifejackets while beach bathing at around 3:00 pm when participants began reporting that they were affected by oil in the water and on the sand. Chen informed the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau and the Maritime

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Taichung City recycling plant fire causes pollution, takes 19 hours to extinguish

smoke from fire seen from a distance
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A fire at a recycling plant in Taichung City created a plume of thick, black smoke that could be seen up to 40 kilometers away yesterday, and was finally extinguished by firefighters this morning after a 19-hour-long battle. The Taichung City Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at a recycling plant on Wunan Road, Wuqi District at around 2:40 pm yesterday. Nineteen firetrucks and 39 firefighters were immediately dispatched to battle the blaze. Piles of plastic pellets and other

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Study finds microplastics in popular fish snacks from 7 Asian countries

chart showing microplastics environmental flow chart
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , , ,

A research team at a Taiwanese university found microplastics in 14 dried fish products from 7 different countries in Asia, according to a study published in the latest issue of The Journal of Hazardous Materials. The study conducted at the College of Marine Sciences at National Sun Yat-sen University examined small whole dried fish products that are commonly eaten with peanuts as a snack or appetizer and are popular in Asian countries. The products were produced in Japan, China, Sri

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Perfect weekend weather turns to “dirty rain” in northern Taiwan

weather map showing airstreams
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A clear, warm, sunny Saturday saw the weekend in northern Taiwan start with perfect weather, but Sunday turned to rain that meteorologists warned could be contaminated with pollutants. Taiwan’s private weather company WeatherRisk said that a strengthening of northeastern monsoonal winds caused an obvious drop in temperature and increase in moisture in northern and northeastern areas this morning. The rain will increase in the afternoon, and in addition, airstreams will bring pollution from northern areas of China. The northeastern monsoon

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Dust from China sandstorm to affect Taiwan from late Sunday

air quality index forecasts
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Dust from China’s worst sandstorm in decades will begin to affect air-quality in Taiwan starting Sunday evening, March 21, according to the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The EPA says that according to the latest observational data from the Central Weather Bureau, strengthening of the northeast monsoon and a continental high-pressure system will not cause a temperature drop starting Sunday night, and will also bring dust from the sandstorms. According to the report, on Monday, March 22, central and northern parts

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Landfill fire spreads pollution over Greater Taipei Districts

landfill fire Bali District
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A fire at a landfill site in New Taipei City’s Bali District has been burning for more than 30 hours, and foul-smelling smoke has been reported as far away as Zhonghe District. The fire was first reported at the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau landfill site at 7:00 am yesterday, and although flames have been doused, the pile of garbage continues to smolder this afternoon, March 1. Residents of Luzhou, Linkou, Wanhua, Banqiao, Yonghe, and Zhonghe districts have reported

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Firefighters work overnight battling chemical factory fire in Kaohsiung City

UPC Technology Corporation fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Firefighters in Kaohsiung City worked through the night to extinguish a fire at a chemical plant in the Linyuan Industrial Park after an explosion and fire was reported at around 8:30 pm yesterday evening, January 29. Thirty-six vehicles and 75 personnel were dispatched from 14 fire stations to battle the blaze at the UPC Technology Corporation (1313.TW) plasticizer plant on Gongye 2nd Road. The fire destroyed around 300 square meters containing plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and phthalic anhydride (PA) production

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Chemical Leak from Factory Blaze Causes Fish-kill in Local Streams

dead fish
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

More than 10 tons of dead fish were collected from streams in Taoyuan City, after chemical contamination from a factory destroyed by fire over the weekend caused waters to turn acidic. Dead fish floated on the surface of local streams and covered creek banks beginning Sunday, after a fire, which was still smoldering this morning, Tuesday, May 1, consumed much of the multi-story printed circuit board factory Saturday night. Five fire fighters, and two Thai nationals employed at the factory

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Kenting Beach Contaminated by Sewage Sludge

sewage sludge at beach in Kenting National Park
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The waters of Nanwan Beach in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township turned black this morning after sewage sludge was accidentally released from a sewage treatment plant. Beach-goers said that the water suddenly turned black and smelly at around 11:00am today, May 1. Surfers reported suffering from itchiness all over their bodies after being caught in the stinky slick. Liberty Times reported that foreign tourists remained unaware of the problem and continued to swim in the surf zone. Personnel from Pingtung County

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EPA Sets Timetable to Achieve Plastics-free Ocean Goal

A rubber band, plastic straw, pieces of string or wire, and other objects shown in the belly of a fish gutted in Ilan County Taiwan November 2016
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

[Picture from previous article Litter Found in the Bellies of Dolphinfish ] A range of disposable plastic products, including plastic bags, drinking straws, disposable tableware, eating utensils, and drinking cups, will be completely banned by 2030 under a plan rolled out by the Environmental Protection Administration today, February 13. EPA Director, Lee Ying-Yuan launched the Taiwan Marine Waste Management Action Plan this morning. Under the plan, next year, 2019, will see plastic drinking straws banned in major chain restaurants. By

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Pollution Traced to Petrochemical Plant

environmental protection officers inspect a stream in miaoli county
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Pollution that resulted in a Miaoli County stream turning a milky-white color was traced to a Petrochemical plant in an industrial area today. The EPA have opened legal proceedings against the company responsible. Miaoli County Government Environmental Protection Bureau officers traced the source of the pollution after complaints by local residents who said that the stream changed color on a daily basis. Sometimes the water turns red, sometimes blue, and the last few days, milky white. EPB officers inspected plants

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