CHINA: The Chinese government issues warnings advising people to stay indoors as pollution levels rise to dangerous heights

Record ID: 217133

  • Title: CHINA: The Chinese government issues warnings advising people to stay indoors as pollution levels rise to dangerous heights
  • Date: 12th January 2013
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 12, 2013) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTION MAN WAITING ON BICYCLE VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Environment,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA36ZFU6LHWQHK9WW2HTFXE5L2L
  • Story Text: Pollution levels rose to dangerous heights in northern China on Saturday (January 12), causing traffic closures and forcing the government to issue warnings for people to stay indoors.
    According to monitors at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, the Air Pollution Index for the city was over 700 by midday, when a reading between 301 and 500 is considered hazardous.
    A reading of 50 or below is considered good air quality.
    Official Chinese state news agency Xinhua said that Thursday (January 11) night the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau issued warnings to residents to remain indoors and avoid staying outside for long periods of time.
    In Shijiazhaung, the capital of China's northern Hebei province, Chinese state television CCTV reported that the fog resulted in flight delays at the local airport and many expressway closures.
    Footage from CCTV featured local residents wearing face masks to escape the barely-breathable conditions.
    Not far away, foggy conditions affected over 173 ships at the Qinhuangdao port Saturday (January 12) morning, CCTV said.
    Citing local meteorologists, Xinhua reported that the foggy conditions are expected to continue throughout the weekend.
    In 2011, the state-run China Daily quoted a Beijing health official as saying the lung cancer rate in the city had increased by 60 percent during the past decade, even though the smoking rate during the period had not seen an apparent rise.
    Despite the recent reports of pollution levels on the rise, state media announced in February of last year plans to reduce air pollution levels in Beijing by 15 percent by 2015 and 30 percent by 2020 through phasing out old cars, relocating factories and planting new forests.
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