Chinese Regime Promises to Start Stricter Air Monitoring

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Many of China's cities have been shrouded in dusty haze for a long time. Authorities have been criticized for not reporting the level of air pollution accurately. That's because most cities only measure large pollutants, instead of more harmful, smaller particles. This may soon change though, with authorities now planning to impose tougher standards nationwide.

As major cities in China are being choked by smog, the Chinese regime says it will begin monitoring smaller air pollutants starting next year.

Since 2008, authorities have been monitoring pollutants, known as fine particulate matter 2.5, or simply PM2.5, in eight pilot cities. But everywhere else in the country, only larger particles called PM 10 are being measured. This difference means the real amount of air pollution can be masked.

On Tuesday, The China National Environmental Monitoring Center released its findings for the eight pilot cities. The data left out Beijing, but includes cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai. It found that in some cities, the level of PM2.5 exceeded safe levels nearly 50% of the time from 2008 to 2010. These heavily populated places also had hazy days from over two months to six months of the year.

An environmental researcher, who asked to remain anonymous, says that level of pollution is bad news for the public.

[Environmental Researcher]:
"Some of PM2.5 particles may contain organic matter which can irritate the airways and lead to respiratory conditions. Also, the particles will collect in the lungs which can cause serious conditions, including lung cancer."

State-run People's Daily reported on Thursday that authorities will now start to measure PM2.5 in large cities. The standard is to be imposed nationwide by 2015.