Tag Archives: Beijing

Choking to Death: Health Consequences of Air Pollution in China

In the past few months, I wrote about the food the Chinese eat, and, more recently, Liz Economy wrote about the water the Chinese drink. But the air that the Chinese breathe is now a major concern. As the nearly … Continue reading

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Smog and sandstorm engulf China’s capital

Air quality in China’s capital, Beijing, has once again hit serious levels, with thick smog and a sandstorm blanketing the city. State news agency Xinhua, quoting officials, said the pollution levels were “dangerous”. Beijing’s environment agency blamed large amounts of … Continue reading

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Beijing air quality plummets after Lantern Festival fireworks

Heavy smog blanketed most areas in Beijing and air pollution readings surged after enthusiastic residents set off fireworks to celebrate the annual Lantern Festival, Xinhua reported on Monday. Readings of PM2.5, tiny airborne particles that can enter deep into the … Continue reading

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Chinese struggle through ‘airpocalypse’ smog

Hu Li’s heart sank when she realised that she could gauge how close she was to home by the colour of the air. Driving 140 kilometres from Tianjin City to Beijing last week, she held her breath as the chalky-white … Continue reading

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Beijing’s air quality rated ‘hazardous’ as smog returns to eastern regions

Air quality in Beijing turned “hazardous” while pollution in Shanghai was rated unhealthy as hazy weather was forecast across eastern regions. Concentrations of PM2.5, fine air particulates that pose the greatest health risk, rose to 297 micrograms per cubic metre … Continue reading

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Managing mega-cities’ pollution levels

The pollution monitor on the roof of the US Embassy in Beijing was catapulted into the international spotlight as air pollution deteriorated in the Chinese capital in mid-January. The instrument broadcasts a Twitter bulletin each hour providing a record of … Continue reading

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Air pollution from China reaches Japan, other parts of Asia

Traces of China’s air pollution have reached southwestern Japan, alarming residents and leading government officials to consider international cooperation to deal with the problem. Beijing has been suffering severe air pollution this winter, with thick smog blanketing the capital and … Continue reading

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Beijing’s Murky Air-Pollution Measures

Was January Beijing’s worst-ever month for pollution? The question is no doubt on the minds of residents as February brings merely “unhealthy” levels of dangerous airborne particulate matter in place of a slew of January days officially classified as “hazardous”—or … Continue reading

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