This is the first time a red alert was declared under the four-tier alert system, which was adopted a little over two years ago, although pollution levels were nowhere near the city’s worst.
Advertisement
Seeking treatment for respiratory illnesses, Beijing hospital-goers complained on Wednesday that their conditions were being worsened by toxic smog, now in its third day and which prompted authorities to declare a pollution “red alert”.
“And air purifiers at home are a must”, Beijing resident Sun Yuanyuan said at a downtown Beijing juice shop.
Beijing issued a first pollution “red alert” on Monday, and set out measures to combat the hazardous smog, including limiting the use of conventional petrol-powered and hybrid cars to alternate days.
“But, as I say we get a really good combination of quality labour and quality materials that means we come out with a really good quality mask”.
Many drivers continued to defy the vehicle restrictions – 3,690 vehicles were found in violation of the even-odd license plate policy in Beijing on Tuesday – and a number of schools chose to open despite a board of education order to remain closed through Thursday. At the time that the alert went out, the density of PM 2.5 particles, which is a common measure of air quality, was 10 times the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Forbidden City is seen from the top of Jingshan Park during a heavily polluted day in Beijing, China.
City inspectors set up 650 video cameras to watch construction sites and confirm they obey dust-control rules, the statement said. “The reality is that we have smog”, she said. However, despite the red alert, it has been noted that the pollution levels were actually much higher the week before when the alert level was merely orange. “This is modern life for Beijing people”, office worker Cao Yong told Associated Press.
Some Beijingers have left the city altogether, taking advantage of the school closures to fly to cleaner destinations, such as the southern city of Kunming at the foot of the Tibetan Plateau. On Tuesday, heavy smog extended 950 kilometres west of the city and 1,500 kilometres south.
Advertisement
China, being the worst air polluter is part of the present talks on carbon emission which are underway in Paris. Optimists like Solis smelled change in the smoky air, saying the alert demonstrated a new political will to grapple with a grave public health issue after years of denial and neglect.
