Tag Archives: Beijing

Top tip if you’re going out in Beijing: don’t breathe

When it comes to air pollution, the long-suffering residents of Beijing tend to think they have seen it all. But this weekend, instruments measuring the levels of particulate matter in the city’s famously noxious air broke all records. The Beijing … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels

China’s capital city of Beijing has been shrouded in thicker-than-usual pollution for several days, with air pollution indexes reaching dangerous levels. Local authorities have warned the severe pollution is likely to continue until Monday. Monitors at the US Embassy in … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, China | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

China to release pollution data in 74 cities

Air pollution is a serious concern in many of China’s cities, but the authorities have obfuscated or manipulated pollution data for years. However, the Chinese state media said on Sunday that 496 monitoring stations would release data in real time … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, China | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Air Pollution Becomes a Major Global Killer

The economic growth that many nations in Asia and increasingly Africa have experienced over the past couple of decades has transformed hundreds of millions of lives — almost entirely for the better. But there’s a byproduct to that growth, one … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Air Quality, Asia, China, Health Effects of Air Pollution, India | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

PM2.5 air pollutants causing more deaths than estimated, study says

The health risks of microscopic air pollutants have been grossly underestimated on the mainland, with nearly 8,600 premature deaths expected this year in four major cities, a study has revealed. And premature deaths are “just a tiny fraction” of the … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, China | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

China pledges $56bn for air pollution crackdown

China’s notoriously polluted cities could soon be forced to take steps to tackle air pollution, after the government announced plans to spend 350bn yuan ($56bn) on tackling the issue. According to local media reports, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, China | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Running a risk

Five days before the Beijing Marathon, the air pollution level in Beijing was rated “very unhealthy” by the US Embassy, and buildings in the distance appeared obscured by haze. Nonetheless, about 30,000 runners are gathering in the city on Sunday … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, China, Exercise & Air Pollution, Running, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

How birds are used to monitor pollution

Common nesting birds may provide a convenient way to track environmental clean-up efforts. Nesting birds that feed on insects that hatch in lake or stream-bed sediments may make good biomonitors for pollution, says Thomas Custer of the US Geological Survey’s … Continue reading

Posted in Air Quality, Asia, China, USA & Canada | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment