China’s Pollution Problems Continue

Days of heavy smog enveloping much of Northern China has pollution at more than 20 times what is considered safe levels today, despite China’s government promising it’s citizen a better plan to combat environmental issues.

Visibility has dropped in a dramatic way as small pollutant particles known as PM2.5 have reached levels of more than 500 micrograms per cubic meter in the Hebei province bordering Beijing. At these levels, the PM2.5 particles can become embed deep in the lungs of those who inhale them.

To paint a picture of just how saturated the air is in the Hebei province is, The World Health Organization’s guidelines allow for a maximum healthy exposure of 25. In the Hebei capital, buildings are currently obscured by an ominously thick smog, with PM2.5 levels in the city hovering near or above 300 micrograms per cubic meter since Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have issued an “orange” alert.

For years, China has been plagued by heavy air pollution as a result of excessive use of coal to generate electricity to power their booming economy in additional to seeing a large increase to the amount of cars on the road.

Public outrage over the environment has been steady, leading the government to wage a “war on pollution” along with a vow to drastically reduce coal use in certain areas. Despite these promises, poor air quality persists with officials unfaltering in their continued focus on economic growth, which is essentially, the root of the pollution problem itself.

Greenpeace East Asia has decided to take the growing environmental activism more seriously, putting a neon sign on the façade of the Drum Tower just north of the Forbidden City that reads “Blue Sky Now!”

Hebei isn’t the only province affected by the heavy pollution. Areas hundreds of kilometers from Beijing are experience heavy smog as the city hosts a high-profile cycling tournament, the Tour of Beijing, and an International football match between Brazil and Argentina. Global heads of state from the U.S., Russia and Asia are set to convene in the capital for a key summit next month without a plan to end the dangerous pollution levels in place.