China detains 10 company officials over fabricated pollution data as public anger grows over air quality
Inspections of businesses part of environment ministry crackdown that has been stepped since last week’s first red alert over acrid smog in Beijing, which triggered limits on vehicle use and school closures
Police in China have detained 10 company officials for fabricating pollution data, says the environment ministry as the government steps up inspections of businesses amid growing public discontent over air quality.
The drive follows a red alert declared in Beijing last week over acrid smog that shrouded the capital, which triggered limits on vehicle use and school closures, with a government call for a halt to “large-scale, outdoor activity”.
Read more: Beijing issues red alert as ‘worst smog of the year’ headed for northern China
On Friday Beijing issued another red alert as the National Meteorological Centre warned that some parts of north China would experience the worst smog so far this year from Saturday until next Tuesday.
A red alert is triggered when the government believes there will be at least three days of PM2.5 - tiny airborne particulate matter of 2.5 microns or smaller - where levels exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre.
PM2.5 pollution is fine enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and is associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer and asthma.
Special law enforcement teams from the ministry uncovered the cases, it said, adding that the firms “unscrupulously” falsified data in an attempt to evade regulations.
The ministry said some of the companies involved could face criminal lawsuits.
Chinese law prescribes jail terms of up to seven years for pollution offenders, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Zhao Yanhong, a representative of Coca-Cola in China, said the case involving the joint venture happened in October and was handled by regional authorities, with a detained employee of the joint venture being released after five days.
“We've promptly accepted the criticism and rectification,” Zhao said.
