Annelise Connell of Clear the Air wrote back to me with additional information you'll find interesting, and frightening...

1. Health considerations and risks of running in smoggy environments. Click here (also, see the comment left in the previous blog entry regarding the effects of specific chemicals).

2. Hong Kong's Air Pollution Index (API) guidelines are relatively lax compared to those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using Hong Kong's index, the U.S. EPA would suggest that NO ONE should do strenuous exercise when the reading is above 88 (readings on Marathon day were well over 100). Click here for more.

Also, please see the press release that Clear the Air posted regarding the marathon (hopefully SCMP will also publish this) here.

Lastly, for a summary of the average pollution readings in January 2006 (using Hong Kong's relatively lax health suggestions), click here.