Officials ban half of Beijing’s cars amid emergency smog alert

Gao Yuanli, 35, told CNN that the smog often made her life hard.

China has issued a red alert for the first time ever as a blanket of smog has been settling over the capital Beijing. The World Health Organisation designates the safe level for the tiny, poisonous particles at 25.

That alert level is the highest possible under China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection air quality measurement scheme.

Cars with even and odd number license plates will alternate daily in using the city’s roads, they explained. Officials said extra subway trains and buses would be added to handle the additional strain on public transport. “It shows they really want to initiate this alert system and deal with air pollution”.

Kindergartens, primary and high schools were advised to suspend classes, however, some teachers still went to school to support students who had chosen to courageous the poor air and attend class.

A grey soupy haze subsumed Beijing’s unique landmarks, convenience stores sold air-filtering masks at brisk rates and health-food stores promoted pear juice as a traditional Chinese tonic for the lungs.

“You have to do whatever you can to protect yourself”, said Li Huiwen, who stopped by a market on her way home from work.

According to The Guardian, 34-year-old Wang Renzheng has been seen walking along the streets of Beijing claiming that he is not doing any scientific research rather aiming to instigate consciousness of the extremely risky effects of smog that is engulfing China.

Beijing’s red alerts for smog are as much about duration as they are about severity of pollution forecasts. The alert requires a forecast of more than 72 straight hours with PM2.5 levels of 200 micrograms per cubic meter or more.

Some places in North China have experienced regional air pollution recently, and Beijing’s air quality has remained heavily polluted due to windless and warm weather, according to Beijing Emergency Management Office.

“My baby suffers from coughing, cold, bronchitis, this is related to air pollution”, one mom surnamed Yao said the children’s hospital, amid the sound of crying babies.

China has reduced emissions and invested in renewable energies such as solar power or wind, but the country still depends on coal for more than 60 per cent of its power.