Beijing has 'relatively poor air quality' says environmental chief as air pollutants soar 30pc
Nitrogen dioxide and the inhalable particulate matter, PM10, rose by a third
Beijing's top environment official described the city's air quality as 'relatively poor' on Tuesday as statistics emerged revealing the level of major air pollutants in the city had soared by 30 per cent this year.
These two compounds - along with sulphur dioxide - make up the three major pollutants closely monitored by officials. Chen revealed that sulphur dioxide levels had dropped slightly, the report said.
He made the remarks on Tuesday on radio after listeners asked why smog had become so bad in Beijing. Public concern about air pollution remains high in the capital after it was frequently shrouded in thick smog earlier this year.
In a document dubbed “Cleaning Air Operation Plan 2013” made public last month, Beijing authorities vowed to lower major air pollutants by 2 per cent this year. To reach this goal, the city announced 52 measures including phasing out about 180,000 vehicles with high emission levels and growing more than 58,000 acres of forest around Beijing.
Chen admitted climate and geological factors had contributed to the “relatively poor air quality”. But he said a major problem was also soaring vehicle emissions and high daily emissions in urban areas.