This year, Beijing has declared the smog warning to be their highest as stated by the authorities in the Chinese capital. Last Sunday, the city announced its orange level alert.
It is reported to have been the second highest possible as the Chinese media says that the factories and other industrial plants have been mandated to slow down or even stop their production. Even building sites have been prohibited to engage in actions such as facilitating the transport of materials or waste. Trucks that carry heavy loads have been banned in entering the city.
It was also reported that the pollution readings in certain areas in the city reached an abnormally high level compared to the safe standards considered by the World Health Organization. To be exact, it was 17 times higher than the normal numbers set by WHO. There were reports that claimed the visibility is now up to a few hundred meters in places.
This is an alarming case as the people living in the capital or working near these affected areas are already on the line for having a health risk because of this condition. People who are in these locations must take extra precaution as this is a serious predicament.
The air pollution monitor manned by the US Embassy in Beijing has reported that the pollution matter of PM 2.5 has reached more than 400 micrograms per cubic meter in the worst-affected places. The safe standards of WHO considers only a rough 25 micrograms per cubic meter as the level.
Air pollution has been a constant issue in China especially in the northeast which is the heart of their coal mining industry. Construction sites, heating systems, and coal-powered industries have been the main contributors of the smog. Humidity and a lack of wind are the underlying factors that aggravated the condition.
China hopes in cutting down pollution but their main industry has reliance in coal. Hopefully, a cold front expected to arrive on Wednesday, may offer some relief for Beijing.
