TAIPEI, Taiwan (TVBS News) — In southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung Siaogang District, industrial factories have caused many residents to develop respiratory issues.
The area is home to steel mills, coal-fired power plants, and medical waste incinerators, resulting in poor air quality.
To address this issue, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital has established the first specialized clinic in the area.
The clinic aims to perform routine check-ups to detect signs of air pollution-related illness among residents.
Dr. Wu Ta-wei of the clinic explains, "The first thing we do is conduct low-dose testing for residents of Siaogang and Linyuan Districts."
"f the results are abnormal, we will continue to track their diagnosis at this specialized clinic."
He added that a full-body health check will be available to determine the best treatment if they diagnose residents with respiratory diseases.
According to the borough chief of the area, deaths related to air pollution generated by the nearby factories have been astonishing.
29% of lung cancer deaths, 25% of heart diseases, 24% of strokes, and 43% of respiratory-linked illnesses were due to poor air quality.
The borough chief revealed that many residents who passed away due to lung adenocarcinoma were relatively young — in their fifties.
The hospital actively monitors PM2.5 pollutant particles in the area to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment to patients.
The World Health Organization attributes over 7 million premature deaths each year to air pollution.
Therefore, governments and residents need to recognize the severity of this issue and take steps to prevent further deaths caused by pollutants.