Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China

Severe air pollution in China forces expressways to close

Many parts of China experienced extremely poor visibility on Sunday due to severe air pollution. Visibility in the eastern province of Jiangsu was reduced to 10 meters forcing authorities to close expressways for the day.

The capital Beijing recorded the highest level of hazardous PM2.5 concentration on a 6-point scale.

The heavy smog persisted in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province on Monday.

“Levels of PM2.5 particles are above 200 micrograms per cubic meter in most urban areas of the capital, that’s above safe levels. Many areas have a level 5 ‘heavy pollution’ warning, with some places at level 6, the highest pollution level,” said a report.

Authorities are warning residents to stay indoors, or wear masks to reduce harm to their eyes and lungs.

Visibility in the eastern province of Jiangsu was reduced to 10 meters forcing authorities to close expressways on Sunday. Screenshot from news clip posted on NHK site.

Outdoor air pollution contributed to 1.2 million premature deaths [that’s the equivalent of about 25 million healthy years of life from the population] in China in 2010, about 40 percent of the global total, said a report.