China: Smog measures cut Beijing’s pollution by 30 percent

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.

“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”.

But the struggle is largely out of municipal officials’ hands since much of its air pollution comes from neighbouring areas, where pollution levels remained hazardous today, particularly to the south in Hebei province.

Pedestrians wear masks for protection against the pollution in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015.

Along with school closures and limiting cars to driving every other day depending on the last number of their license plate, a raft of other restrictions will seek to reduce the amount of dust and other particulate matter in the city of 22.5 million people.

Beijing’s authorities ordered limits on cars, factories and construction sites for three days during a red alert for smog starting Tuesday.

“I’ve already sold seven machines worth 30,000 renminbi”, or about $4,700, said shopkeeper Yuan Yuxia as she tried to keep up with the steady stream of customers pushing through the door just 90 minutes after the shop opened.

The index is strongly linked to levels of the unsafe tiny particles PM2.5, which at midday ranged from about 200 to 250 micrograms per cubic meter downtown – or 8 to 10 times the safe level recommended by the World Health Organization.

The red alert is the highest of Beijing’s four-tiered, color-coded warning system that was instituted in 2013 following the adoption of an emergency response program for air pollution. Using scenario modelling, the government will be able to optimize its emission reduction strategy and achieve a balance between clean air and continued economic growth.

The city will “fight well a hard battle to prevent and contain air pollution”, it said.

DDC vice chairman Ashish Khetan said to The Times of India that “to optimize the government’s action plan to tackle air pollution, we need accurate, real-time insight about the situation on the ground and a better understanding of how to respond in the most effective and sustainable way”.

The system takes into account not only weather patterns that suspend pollutants in the air, but also industry emissions, and flows of vehicles and their emissions – which will differ depending on the day of the week and time of day. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.