CHINA: Beijing residents say they are worried about thick air pollution that has soared to the highest level in months

Record ID: 217045

  • Title: CHINA: Beijing residents say they are worried about thick air pollution that has soared to the highest level in months
  • Date: 16th January 2014
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING IN FRONT OF BUILDINGS IN BEIJING'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT CHINESE CENTRAL TELEVISION (CCTV) HEADQUARTERS SHROUDED IN SMOG VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING IN SMOG SUN BEHIND BUILDINGS PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET BESIDE BUS STOP WOMAN WEARING MASK WAITING FOR BUS WOMAN WEARING MASK WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 25-YEAR-OLD T
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5W26B4O0Q1RZUMDGBB5RFMHT
  • Story Text: Beijing residents woke up on Thursday (January 16) to capital's worst smog in months hanging over the heavy morning traffic.
    An index measuring PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), reached 500 in much of the capital in the early hours.
    A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20.
    Many commuters like 25-year-old TV producer Mi Xi wore masks to cover their mouths and noses.

    "In the morning I checked the air pollution level, and today it said that the air pollution is very serious, so I wore my face mask. In terms of the effect on me, personally I have nasal inflammation, and today it's really bad. Often I worry that the air pollution is harming me," she said.
    China's cities are among the world's most polluted and Beijing regularly sees hazardous levels of air pollution.
    Local authorities have unveiled a new smog alert system that will impose curbs on driving and halt manufacturing and construction if three consecutive days of hazardous pollution are forecast.
    They have also announced plans to burn gas instead of coal, a major contributor to the smog, to generate power and heat homes in winter.
    But Lan Wenxian, a doctor, had already had enough of the city.

    "The pollution is really bad. Recently I have had a bad cold all the time, have difficulty breathing and the phlegm that I cough up is black. I'm planning to leave Beijing. I don't want to stay here," he said.
    Four highways around Beijing were temporarily closed due to the smog on Thursday morning, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
    The smog was forecast to last until Friday (January 17) morning, the report added.
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