The antiquated Air Quality Index of Hong Kong is under review to comply with World Health Organization guidelines even as new face masks were unveiled this week to protect the public from air pollution.

"The risk posed by air pollution on human health will form an important basis for updating the air-quality objectives," said Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah Thursday at the International Conference on Environment and Health

A five-fold hike in penalties will be imposed by China's State Environmental Protection Administration on individuals and firms that pollute drinking water resources by discharging toxic substances. The drastic hike in fines will place the maximum fine at $67,600 (500,000 yuan).

For those who dump solid waste and other types of pollutants, the penalty will be $27,000 (200,000 yuan), a 20-fold increase from present levels. The draft policy lifts the $135,000 (1 million yuan) ceiling on fines for water polluters. Once the policy is approved, polluters will have to pay from 20 percent to 30 percent of the direct economic loss that was caused by their dumping activity

The World Bank's country director for China and Mongolia warned China Tuesday its air pollution is causing more ailments and deaths, while eating 3.8 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. Among the negative effects of air pollution are higher incidents of lung diseases such as cancer and respiratory problems, which leads to higher levels of absenteeism in workplaces and schools.

Including the cost of water pollution, the bill to China's economy for health and non-health effects is around $100 billion a year, roughly 5.8 percent of its GDP, said David Dollar of the WB

More Londoners are actually irked by the aircraft noise from Heathrow airport than the numbers indicated in a government-commissioned study in 1985.

As such, residents near the international hub said there is basis to stop the expansion of the airport on the basis of the key environmental issue. The Financial Times reports that not only will the building of a sixth terminal and a third runway greater noise pollution, these will also severely affect the already low air quality in the area

Batman, the caped crusader from Gotham City, could easily beat arch rivals Joker and the Penguin without batting an eyelash but an encounter with the Hong Kong's famed but polluted harbor is one he is quick to back out from.

The script of the latest movie sequel calls for dark knight to jump out of a plane into the Victoria Harbor but producers cut the scene, noting the poor water quality is just too dangerous for the action hero, the South China Morning Post reports