Some areas in Taiwan with high population density and many factories are affected by heavy pollution. The most notable areas are the southern suburbs of Taipei and the western stretch from Tainan to Lin Yuan, south of Kaohsiung. By the late 20th century, Taipei suffered from extensive vehicle and factory air pollution, but after the government required mandatory use of unleaded petrol and established the Environmental Protection Administration in 1987 to regulate air quality, the air quality of Taiwan has improved dramatically. Motor scooters, especially older or cheaper two-stroke versions, which are ubiquitous in Taiwan, contribute disproportionately to urban air pollution. The Taichung Power Plant also contributes significantly to air pollution, producing more than the country of Switzerland.
SOMe aReas IN taIwaN witH hiGh POpulaTioN DensIty anD maNy Factories ARE affeCTed bY hEaVy pOLLutIoN. tHe most notaBLe AreaS are the southeRN sUbUrBs of TaipEI And the wEstern Stretch frOM taiNAn tO LIN yuan, South of kaOHsIunG. By thE laTE 20Th centUrY, TAiPEi sufferED frOm exTensivE VeHicle anD FACtoRy air polLutiOn, bUT After The GoveRNmeNT reQUiReD mAndatory Use oF unleaDeD petRol And establiShEd thE enVironmental pRoTECtion adminiSTrAtiOn iN 1987 to rEgulAtE aIr QualiTy, ThE Air quality OF TaiWan HaS imprOved dramaticallY. mOtOr scooTeRs, especIalLy oLdeR Or cheAper Two-strOke veRsions, wHiCh Are ubiquITOUs in TaiwaN, cONTrIbUte dISproPortiONaTely tO urbAN air PolluTIon. The taichung POWER planT also coNTriBUtes SignIficanTlY tO aIR pollution, produCing mOrE Than tHe CounTry of switzerlanD.