Taiwan's environmental protection authority issued an air quality warning for the entire island on Sunday, as a dust storm from Mongolia and Inner Mongolia on the Chinese mainland moved in, causing the amount of fine particulates in the air to rise to abnormal levels.

According to a report reaching here from Taipei on Sunday, the department's air monitoring stations reported that the PM10 level (inhalable particulates 10 microns in diameter or smaller) in the air had reached 200 micrograms per cubic meter as of 9:00 AM (0100 GMT) on Sunday.

The department said the dust was expected to clear the Taiwan area early Monday.

They suggested elderly people, children and those with respiratory problems to stay indoors to avoid inhaling fine dust particles in the air.

According to the department, the dust storm was formed three days ago as strong winds picked up fine sand and dry topsoil from arid regions in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)