Most Chinese cities fail air quality standards in 2015: Greenpeace

Nearly 300 Chinese cities failed to meet national standards for air quality last year, Greenpeace said on Wednesday, despite marginal improvements in some of the worst-hit areas.

Cities on the mainland are often hit by heavy pollution, blamed on coal-burning by power stations, heavy industry and vehicle use, and it has become a major source of discontent with the ruling Communist Party.

In the 366 cities monitored, the average level of PM2.5 particulates – the finest pollutant particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter that can penetrate into the lungs and cause the greatest harm to public health – was more than five times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation, government data compiled by Greenpeace showed.

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Of those cities monitored, which include all of the nation’s major cities,a total of 293, or 80 per cent, were higher than China’s own looser national standards.

China allows for a yearly average of 35 micrograms per cubic metre,compared with the annual WHO standard of 10 micrograms per cubic metre.

None of the cities in the survey met WHO standards.

The nation’s capital, Beijing was the 27th most polluted city with an average of 80.4 micrograms per cubic metre – a mere 3.3 per cent decrease.

Beijing had 26 days of “heavy air pollution” in the final three months of last year, according to Greenpeace.