Taipei: More than 9 million people in Taiwan live within 5 kilometers of petrochemical production facilities, placing them in high-risk zones for air pollution exposure. According to Greenpeace, a report released on Tuesday by the environmental group identified 191 facilities across 13 counties and cities in Taiwan, claiming that high-risk zones cover almost 40 percent of the population.

According to Focus Taiwan, Greenpeace project manager Chang Kai-ting highlighted that the areas include 1.15 million children and 1.59 million elderly residents. She also noted the presence of 4,067 institutions in these zones, such as kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, and elderly care centers, underscoring the potential health risks to vulnerable populations.

Chang pointed out that Kaohsiung has the highest concentration of petrochemical plants, with 50 facilities affecting about 1.6 million residents. The cities of Taoyuan and Tainan each have 31 facilities, impacting approximately 1.98 million and 1.58 million people, respectively. She added that if the exposure range is expanded to 10 kilometers, the number of affected individuals rises to 15.72 million, which constitutes about 70 percent of Taiwan's population.

In response to these findings, Ministry of Environment (MOENV) Department of Atmospheric Environment Director-General Huang Wei-ming stated that the ministry has initiated investigations and pollution reduction plans. Huang explained that the ministry intends to build monitoring networks, conduct pollution assessments, and offer guidance for reducing emissions.

According to Huang, permanent long-term monitoring networks, including special monitoring stations equipped with high-tech monitoring equipment, have been established in major petrochemical zones. Huang added that the MOENV will hold consultations and provide follow-up guidance in high-emission areas while promoting upgrades to pollution control equipment. He emphasized that these efforts aim to ensure effective management of industrial emissions and risks, ultimately improving air quality.