Beijing – he worst smog of the winter has on Sunday enveloped Beijing, with air pollution levels nearly 15 times the safety limit set by the World Health Organisation.
Authorities have warned in Beijing of “severe pollution” and advised the capital’s 20 million inhabitants to stay indoors.
The U.S. Embassy’s air-quality index reading said Beijing’s PM2.5 concentration, referring to particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, reached 356 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 am on Saturday.
It said that was in the highest band of the scale and was considered to be very hazardous.
It said the air-quality index reading earlier hit a winter high of 434 at noon on Saturday.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“The daily maximum exposure to PM2.5 particles recommended by the WHO is 25 micrograms per cubic metre.
“The particles pose serious health hazards because they can embed deep in the lungs,’’ it said.
It said in recent weeks, pollution readings of 200 to 300 had been common in the capital, in spite of commitments from the government to improve the environment.
“Beijing and many other northern cities in China are notorious for their winter smog, which is caused by a combination of air pollution and weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has forecast severe pollution for Beijing and other areas of northern China until Tuesday, when strong winds are expected to clear some pollutants.
It said a recent joint study by Peking University and Greenpeace, predicted that more than a quarter million people in China’s biggest cities could have their lives cut short from high levels of air pollution. (dpa/NAN)