Planet China: Smog Affects 500 Million People

On the Margins of Sanity

About 250 million people across six provinces were affected by hazardous levels of smog, with another 280 million experiencing “heavy” pollution, according to various estimates.

“On Monday, the PM2.5 reading in many parts of northern China, mainly in Hebei and Henan, exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter. One reading in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, exceeded 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter.”

Ghost Riders in the Sky? China chokes on smog: Caoxian County, east China’s Shandong Province. Severe smog pervading northern China worsened on Monday, smothering dozens of cities, stopping flights, closing roads… and disrupting life. (Image: Xinhua/Dong Xide)

Classifying Smog as a “Natural Disaster!”

Meanwhile, Beijing and Shanghai have attempted to
classify smog as a “natural disaster” so that the “authorities would not have to take full responsibility for it,” said a report.

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Red Alert for Severe Smog in N. China

Severe smog plagues N. China, triggers ‘red alert’ in Beijing, 22 other cities 

The red alert will be activated at 8 p.m. Friday for Beijing and 22 other cities and is expected to last through December 21, according to government media.

Taiyuan, the provincial capital of north China’s coal-rich Shanxi province, has also issued a red alert for severe air pollution, and will activate emergency measures at midnight Friday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said another 20 cities including Shijiazhuang, Tianjin and Zhengzhou were expected to issue red alerts, with nine others on orange alert.

Beijing Sinking

Eastern portion of Beijing sinking at a rate greater than 100 mm/year: Study

Now you see it, now you don’t!  China’s capital Beijing could disappear in a  gigantic sinkhole.

Beijing’s massive subsidence, which has been occurring since at least 1935, is caused by the overexploitation or mining of groundwater. About 60% of the water supply comes from groundwater, and the rest from surface water.

Beijing used about 3.6 billion cubic meters (m³) of water in 2010, compared to renewable fresh water resources of about 3 billion m³. [The consumption may have risen by about 14% over the past five years.]

Article: Imaging Land Subsidence Induced by Groundwater Extraction in Beijing (China) Using Satellite Radar Interferometry

Abstract

Beijing is one of the most water-stressed cities in the world. Due to over-exploitation of groundwater, the Beijing region has been suffering from land subsidence since 1935. In this study, the Small Baseline InSAR technique has been employed to process Envisat ASAR images acquired between 2003 and 2010 and TerraSAR-X stripmap images collected from 2010 to 2011 to investigate land subsidence in the Beijing region. The maximum subsidence is seen in the eastern part of Beijing with a rate greater than 100 mm/year. Comparisons between InSAR and GPS derived subsidence rates show an RMS difference of 2.94 mm/year with a mean of 2.41 ± 1.84 mm/year. In addition, a high correlation was observed between InSAR subsidence rate maps derived from two different datasets (i.e., Envisat and TerraSAR-X). These demonstrate once again that InSAR is a powerful tool for monitoring land subsidence. InSAR derived subsidence rate maps have allowed for a comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis to identify the main triggering factors of land subsidence. Some interesting relationships in terms of land subsidence were found with groundwater level, active faults, accumulated soft soil thickness and different aquifer types. Furthermore, a relationship with the distances to pumping wells was also recognized in this work.

Chen M, Tomás R, Li Z, Motagh M, Li T, Hu L, Gong H, Li X, Yu J, Gong X. Imaging Land Subsidence Induced by Groundwater Extraction in Beijing (China) Using Satellite Radar Interferometry. Remote Sensing. 2016; 8(6):468.

The World Cities Are Running Out of Fresh Water [AND Sinking]

Groundwater from aquifers is a main source for drinking, irrigation and industrial use for much of the world’s population. Globally, an estimated 4 billion people depend on groundwater for drinking, but the water is running out!

Groundwater cannot be replenished from rainfall, and in most cases it takes tens of thousands of years to restore naturally.

According to the International Water Management Institute, about 1,000 cubic kilometers of groundwater are withdrawn each year, which is wholly unsustainable!

More Water Facts

• Total water on Earth: 1.4 x 10^18 m³
• Water in the oceans: About 97.5% of the total
• Volume of Fresh water: Approximately 35 x 10^15 m³ of the earth’s total water. About 0.3% of the freshwater is held in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs and the remainder is stored in glaciers, permanent snow, and groundwater aquifers.
• Water contained in the earth’s atmosphere: about 13 x 10^12 m³
• Water removed from the earth’s surface via evaporation: about 577 x 10^12 m³ each year (only 14% of the water evaporation is from land).
• Total annual precipitation falling on land: about 115 x 10^12 m³ (20% of total evaporation – the 6% surplus water returns to the oceans via rivers.)
• Total freshwater on Earth stored as groundwater: Approximately 11 x 10^15 m³ (30% of all freshwater).
• Water collected in lakes and rivers: about 110 x 10^12 m³ is held as groundwater (one hundredth of the total groundwater reserves)
• Aquifers contribution to human water consumption: an estimated 30% [?] of all of the water used throughout the world.
• Natural recharge rate for the aquifers: from 0.01% to 3% per year.
• Estimated overdraft of global groundwater: about 200 x 10^9 m³ or (twice the average recharge rate!)

Sinking Cities

World cities and agricultural lands that are situated above aquifers and groundwater reserves are slowly but permanently sinking into the ground, as the water is pumped out at phenomenal rates.

In China, at least 46 cities are sinking into the ground due to the excessive pumping of groundwater. In Shanghai excessive groundwater pumping contributes to 70 percent of surface subsidence (the remaining 30 percent is thought to be due to the weight of buildings).

Buildings damaged in a cave-in at Shanghai’s No 4 subway construction site.
[Photo: China Daily] See Fair Use Notice!

Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015

Brazil warns against pregnancy amid surge in ZIKV birth defects

States of Emergency have been declared in six  Brazilian states after a surge in the number of suspected microcephaly among the newborn linked to Zika virus (ZIKV).

In Pernambuco State, about 1,000 cases have been reported. In Rio de Janeiro, about 400 pregnant women are suspected of having Zika infection. About 3 dozen related infant deaths are being investigated. 

Brazilian health authorities are advising would-be parents not to get pregnant, especially in the country’s northeast. The advice follows research that have linked the potentially deadly virus Zika, a mosquito-borne infection, to newborn microcephaly—a neurological disorder that can result in a severe birth defect in which the brain fails to develop properly and the head is much smaller than normal.

“Microcephaly can be caused by genetic factors, infections, or injuries. In recent years, there have been between 150 and 200 cases in Brazil per year. As of 30 November, more than 1,200 cases had been reported in 10 states, all of which have also reported Zika virus infections, says Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, head of the flavivirus laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

However, the number of suspected infections have now doubled to more than 2,400  cases and spared to 20 Brazilian states (compared with 147 cases last year).

 

Storms kill at least a dozen, injure dozens more, leave trails of destruction across the U.S. South

Gov. Haslam approved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s recommendation to go to a Level III State of Emergency, after storms moved across the state Wednesday night, killing at least two people.

Gov. Deal declared a state of emergency in Georgia for Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties through January.

“Following severe weather that resulted in flooding, damage to roads and properties and downed trees, the state is working to ensure the affected counties have access to the resources necessary for response efforts,” said Deal.

Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency in seven Mississippi counties after storms pummeled the state late Wednesday..

Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Prentiss and Tippah counties have all reported damage,  at least six dead and more than 40 injuried.

• Macon County North Carolina issued a state of emergency after the storm caused severe flooding across the area.

• An unknown number of people were injured after the storm overturned planes at a local airport northwest of the state, said reports.

A large tornado, one of at least 3 dozens, landed in Mississippi and raked along a 240-km trail to Tennessee.

SPC received hundreds of severe weather reports including 39 tornadoes, as of posting. Tornadoes left trails of destruction across multiple states: Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois.

 

Beijing air pollution worsens significantly

Air pollution index (AQI) in China hit a high of 592 on Friday and persisted at 562, as of posting.

[The EPA’s revised breakpoints for the upper end of the hazardous air pollution band, AQI of 401 – 500, is equivalent to PM2.5 concentration of 350.5 – 500 μgm−³ averaged over a 24-hour period.  —Editor]

There’s apparent confusion among officials concerning the severity and duration of the smog events, on the one hand, and the extent of willpower exercised by government to shoo away the potentially deadly pollution, on the other. The official news agency, Xinhua, wrote:

Even though Beijing has lifted the red alert for severe pollution, the capital city will remain in haze for a few more days. [How dare smog worsens “even though” the authorities have downgraded the pollution warning to the lowest level. Ed.]

The Beijing municipal heavy pollution emergency response headquarters issued a blue alert for heavy pollution in the city on Thursday afternoon, saying smog will hit central Beijing and southern suburbs on Thursday night. It called on residents in these areas to take protective measures.

“Red” represents the most severe warning level on China’s four-tier warning system,  followed by orange, yellow and blue.

In addition to Beijing, at least 50 other cities in northern and eastern China have issued air pollution alerts for potentially deadly smog this week.

 

 

HAZARDOUS SMOG: BEIJING ISSUES 2ND EVER RED ALERT

Heavy smog to choke Beijing again – Sat. through Tue.

“The red alert, the most serious level, will last from 7 a.m. Saturday to 12 p.m. Tuesday, limiting vehicles on roads according to odd-even license plate numbers and banning fireworks and outdoor barbecue, the Beijing municipal heavy pollution emergency response headquarters said on Friday,” said a report.

The smog event will be worse than the previous spell between Dec. 6 and 9, when the pollution index exceeded 500, reported the National Meteorological Center on Thursday.

The smog is expected to blanket a sizable portion of the country, encompassing more than a dozen major cities and surrounding areas.

Beijing authorities have advised residents to avoid outdoor activity and for schools to stop classes.

The red alert—the highest of a four-level alert system, operating since 2 years ago—also triggers restrictions on industrial operation, construction work and vehicle use.

Beijing residents have been advised to avoid outdoor activity and kindergartens, primary and middle schools are expected to suspend classes during the alert, said the report.

Smog Selfie

Beijing’s 1st ever red alert for smog  to last through Thursday noon

At 23:00 local time on Tuesday, the PM2.5 AQI in Beijing was 346 [“Hazardous”] down from a recent high of 400.

[The EPA’s revised breakpoints for the upper end of the hazardous air pollution band, AQI of 401 – 500, is equivalent to PM2.5 concentration of 350.5 – 500 μgm−³ averaged over a 24-hour period.  —Editor]

Original caption: A tourist takes photo of the Forbidden City amid heavy fog at the Jingshan Park in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 8, 2015. The red alert, the most serious level, will last from 7 a.m. on Tuesday to noon on Thursday. Under a red alert, the city’s emergency management headquarters has advised kindergartens, primary and high schools to suspend classes, banned outdoor operations on construction sites and required some industrial plants to limit or stop production. Car use will be limited during the red alert period as cars are allowed on the roads on alternating days depending on the odd or even numbers of their license plates. In addition, 30 percent of government cars will be banned from streets on an odd/even basis. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

Original caption: This combination photo shows the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of the Temple of Heaven, taken on June 14, 2015 (L) and Dec. 8, 2015 (R), in Beijing, capital of China. Beijing has issued its first red alert for air pollution under a four-tier emergency response system created in October 2013. The red alert, the most serious level, will last from 7 a.m. on Tuesday to noon on Thursday. Under a red alert, the city’s emergency management headquarters has advised kindergartens, primary and high schools to suspend classes, banned outdoor operations on construction sites and required some industrial plants to limit or stop production. Car use will be limited during the red alert period as cars are allowed on the roads on alternating days depending on the odd or even numbers of their license plates. In addition, 30 percent of government cars will be banned from streets on an odd/even basis. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua). More images…

Related Links

• Hazardous Air: Beijing Finally Issues a ‘Red Alert’ December 7, 2015

Hazardous Air: Beijing Finally Issues a ‘Red Alert’

Smog must be serious!

Beijing has issued its first ever “red alert”  as smog levels continue to build up.

The red alert means schools must close and outdoor construction have to stop, probably for the next three days.

The red alert, the highest available, which has not been used in the Chinese capital before, means authorities expect at least three consecutive days of hazardous smog.

The PM2.5 AQI in the city were 249 at 24:00 local time, down from a recent maximum of 428, and much lower than last week’s levels that easily exceeded 600.

The red alert indicates that hazardous pollution levels are forecast over the next three or more days.

Additionally, China’s weather observatory has issued an orange alert for smog in northern China, which is expected to linger through Tuesday evening, reported the state-run Xinhua news agency.

“Beijing, Tianjin, parts of the neighboring provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong, as well as Shanxi, Shaanxi and parts of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in east China will face moderate smog, with south Beijing to experience heavy smog, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.”

Environmental activists said the AQI reached a record 1,400 in the city of Shenyang the last week of November, the highest in the country, according to reports.

Related Links

• Beijing Issues ‘Crazy Smog’ Alert Posted on November 30, 2015
• ‘Breathtaken’ Beijing Besotted by Beastly Smog (AGAIN) Posted on January 15, 2015

Beijing Issues ‘Crazy Smog’ Alert

Self-imposed “house arrest” for N. China; potentially deadly consequences if they break the “curfew”

Heavy smog covers a massive area measuring 530,000 km² around Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as hazardous air pollution chokes 31 cities, said CCTVNews.

A thick blanket of smog, containing potentially deadly pollution, covered 31 cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan on Sunday and Monday, prompting authorities to issue a ‘crazy smog’ alert.

Resident in Beijing and other affected cities have been advised to stay indoors.

Smog will persist in most parts of north China through Wednesday, said the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Image source: http://aqicn.org/

Meanwhile,  the air quality in the Indian capital, New Delhi, also plunged into “hazardous” territory as thick smog choked the city, reducing visibility to about 100 meters.

Smog Plagues N China

China issues yet another smog alert

China’s weather observatory issued a smog alert on Tuesday for the country’s north and northeast, said a report.

“Beijing, Tianjin, parts of the neighboring provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong, as well as parts of northeastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces will be shrouded in moderate smog from Tuesday to Wednesday, and Liaoning Province will suffer from heavy smog, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast.”

‘Breathtaken’ Beijing Besotted by Beastly Smog (AGAIN)

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
APOCALYPTIC SMOG
SCENARIOS 797, 699, 444, 404, 402, 222
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China issues a “yellow alert” as  deadly air pollution lingers in Beijing

Air pollution has again soared to hazardous levels in Beijing since Saturday, reaching nearly 30 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Levels of deadly PM2.5 particulates in Beijing climbed to 546 micrograms per cubic meter on Thursday.

A government official in Sichuan Province has blamed the persistent smog on smoking bacon, the traditional method of preserving pork meat and sausages in the region, said the official Xinhua news agency.

However, independent experts put the blame for the city smog squarely on car emissions, construction and industrial production.

A formula for calculating the AQI from the concentrations of various air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2 …)  is posted HERE.

Smog related links

• Red Tides Attack Shenzhen; Beijing Issues Air Pollution Alert November 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Shrouds Beijing, North China (AGAIN) October 9, 2014
• Besotted by Beijing
• Killing Life in Beijing March 26, 2014

• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution March 16, 2014
• Chinese Cities Unfit for Living March 8, 2014
• You’ve Created a World Unfit for Living February 28, 2014
• Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China February 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China  February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398  February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014

Red Tides Attack Shenzhen; Beijing Issues Air Pollution Alert

MAJOR DISASTERS
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
RED TIDES
WATER POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION
SCENARIOS 817, 797, 699, 404, 402, 05, 02
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Image of the Day:

Red tides splash on China’s ‘most successful’ SEZ

Shenzhen [Population: ~ 20 million] is a major city in southern China’s Guangdong Province. Located north of Hong Kong, the city is part of China’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Original caption: Aerial photo taken on Nov. 25, 2014 shows the red tides, a bloom of bacteria that gives a red tint to coastal waters, on the waters of Dameisha in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Li Suren). More images…

Beijing issues air pollution alert

Beijing municipal authorities issued an air pollution alert  Tuesday afternoon, as forecasters warned of serious smog on Tuesday and Wednesday, reported the official Xinhua.

“Air quality index (AQI) in Beijing hit 236 at 6 p.m. with the index of PM 2.5 exceeding 200, according to the Beijing environmental protection monitoring center website.”

The PM2.5 AQI had exceeded the hazardous levels, reaching 361, as of posting.

Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €189 billion in 2012

Meantime, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported that air pollution from Europe’s largest industrial facilities cost the region as much as €189 billion in 2012.

The upper estimate of €189 billion [$235b] is approximately equivalent to the GDP of Finland or 50% of the GDP of Poland. The estimated cost was at least €329 and possibly up to €1,053 billion over the period 2008 – 2012, said the report.

 

Hazardous Smog Shrouds Beijing, North China (AGAIN)

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
PROLONGED SMOG
SCENARIOS 797, 699, 444, 404, 402, 222
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BEIJING AQI tops 460 and rising

Beijing authorities issued a yellow alert for air pollution on Wednesday amid rising air pollution levels, with smog forecast to continue through weekend, official Xinhua reported.

Northern China’s Hebei province (population: 75 million) and Tianjin (a northern metropolis and one of the five national central cities in China; population: ~ 16 million) and have also issued yellow alerts, the second highest on the national air pollution scale.

Air quality index (AQI) in downtown Beijing reached 462 (extremely hazardous) on Thursday at 19:00UTC, and was rising, according to http://aqicn.org

Related Links

• Red Alert as Hazardous Smog Fills N China’s Shenyang March 27, 2014
• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• Killing Life in Beijing March 26, 2014

Apocalyptic Clouds Over Beijing Prompt Rainstorm Warning

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
SEVERE FLOODING
MEGA DISASTERS
MASS DISPLACEMENTS
SCENARIOS  444, 070, 023
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Beijing issues rainstorm warning

Dark clouds shroud buildings in Shijingshan District of Beijing on Friday, June 6, 2014. Local meteorological agency issued a rainstorm warning in the morning. (Xinhua/Li Xin). More images…

Rainstorms Ravage South China

Meantime, rainstorms continued to ravage southwest China, prompting authorities to issue a warning for Chongqing Municipality, reported Xinhua.

“At least nine people had died as of 8 a.m. Friday after downpours swept Chongqing since Saturday, the local bureau of civil affairs said in a statement.”

Extreme Rain Events have affected about one million people, leaving 124,500 homeless.

“The rainstorms, which have caused the collapse of 7,300 houses and damaged 27,400 hectares of crops, have led to direct economic losses of 500 million yuan (80 million U.S. dollars),” said the report.

Earlier today …

MASS EVACUATIONS FORCED BY MEGA FLOODING IN SOUTH CHINA

The latest round of Extreme Rain Events have triggered major flooding across south China affecting about 2 million people, and leaving at least two dozen dead in Guizhou and Sichuan provinces as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In Guizhou Province alone, flooding has severely affected more than 1.2 million people in 44 counties forcing mass evacuation of at least 88,000 people. At least 18,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, said the Guizhou Civil Affairs Department, reported Xinhua.

Power, water and communications lines were cut off across most of Guizhou Province, said reports.

Earlier this week …

• Extreme Rain Events, Flooding Devastate SW China  June 3, 2014

Other Related Links

• Deadly Floods Affect 6 Million People in China May 27, 2014
• China Battered by Extreme Rain Events, Deadly Floods, Landslides  May 24, 2014

Beijing Broils Under Deadly Heat

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
RECORD TEMPERATURES
DEADLY HEATWAVE
SCENARIO 067
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Beijing Temperatures Top 40°C

Beijing Municipal Warning Center upgraded its temperature warning to “red” early Thursday afternoon.

At least three people have died from heatstroke, as a heatwave  continues to grip China.

Two people died in Yuanyang county in Yunnan province, where the temperatures have been hovering above 40°C  for weeks.

A third fatality was reported in Hong Kong, said South China Morning post.

RED Temperature Warning

“The red warning calls for power suppliers and fire departments to be on the alert, outdoor work and activities to be ceased and classes to be suspended at all schools,” reported Xinhua.

Beijing Meteorological Bureau forecast that temperatures would exceed 42°C [108 degrees] in parts of the city, said the report.

The previous record for hottest day in May was set in 1951, when Beijing temperature reached 38.3°C.

Neighboring regions of Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong Henan and Anhui have also reported record high temperatures.

Related Links

• Heatwaves, Sandstorms Plague China  May 28, 2014

Heatwaves, Sandstorms Plague China

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
HEATWAVES
MAJOR SANDSTORMS
SCENARIOS 777, 067
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Record Temperatures Broil North China

Weather authorities in Hebei Province and cities of Beijing and Tianjin have issued a “Yellow Alert for High Temperatures,” the third highest alert level in the country, as  record-shattering heat in parts of northern China soared to about 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees).

People have been advised to limit their outdoor activities to avoid heatstroke, while the National Center for Disease Control has warned the rising temperatures could help the spread of infections, said a report.

“The national weather forecaster predicts that the region’s heatwave will continue for another three days.”

The latest rounds of heatwave have been plaguing different parts of China (and India) since late April.

At least 11 provinces, cities and regions have reported temperatures exceeding 35°C  this week, including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province, said the report.

Other affected areas include southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and southern Sichuan Province.

Recurring Sandstorms

Meanwhile, recurring dust and sandstorms have hit multiple parts of China since early April.

The worst affected areas  include Beijing, northwest China’s Shaanxi, neighboring SHANXI, and Qinghai provinces, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The National Center for Performing Arts, one of Beijing’s landmarks, is shrouded in sand and dust, May 27, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Huaigui)

The strongest sandstorm in decades  hit parts of Gansu province last month, reducing visibility to less than 20 meters .

THIS IS IT FOLKS!

Cancer Top Killer in China

SURGING CANCER CRISIS
.

Estimated 3.5 million new cancer cases kill 2.5 million Chinese each year

About 3.5 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually, leading to at least 2.5 million deaths from the disease, said the deputy director of the National Cancer Registration Center, Xinhua reported.

“Although Chinese people’s livelihood has improved, cancer incidence and mortality have also been on the rise,” he said.

Unsurprisingly, cancer has taken just a few decades to become the top killer in China.

“In 1964, cancer ranked the fourth-biggest cause of death, while from 1970 to 1989, it ranked second, and data from 2007 showed that it had become the top killer for Chinese,” said a former senior  official at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cancer in Beijing

Meanwhile, cancer was identified as the No.1 cause of death in Beijing for the seventh consecutive year (2007 to 2013), in a report released by the municipal commission of health and family planning this week, Xinhua said.

Related Links

• Trinity of Death: Contaminated Soil, Smog and Polluted Water  April 18, 2014
• Besotted by Beijing April 14, 2014
• Red Alert as Hazardous Smog Fills N China’s Shenyang March 27, 2014

 

Red Alert as Hazardous Smog Fills N China’s Shenyang

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
.

Heavy smog and fog shroud huge swathes of China

Heavy smog and fog shrouded huge swathes of China prompting the authorities to issue a red alert in Shenyang the capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, March 27, 2014. Photo: Xinhua/Jiang Bing

Beijing AQI

Meantime, Beijing AQI reached a high of 477 on Thursday and was hovering above 350 level, as of posting.

AQI levels of 300 or greater are categorized as “hazardous” and require mandatory health warnings because everyone may experience very serious health effects.

Related Links

• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• Killing Life in Beijing March 26, 2014

Killing Life in Beijing

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
.

‘The great virtue of Heaven and Earth is creating life’  —I Ching

China issued a “yellow alert” yesterday amid 5th consecutive day of deadly air pollution in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Provinc . Beijing AQI reached a peak of of 417 at 11:00 am local time on Wednesday.

“Foggy weather will appear in north China and areas along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers, while some parts of Beijing and Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong and Liaoning will see heavy air pollution until Wednesday morning, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Tuesday,” Xinhua reported.

“Yellow” is the 2nd lowest [despite the life-threatening smog] of a four-tier alert system—red, orange, yellow, blue—indicating the severity of air pollution.

The reoccurring heavy smog episodes have been described as “Apocalyptic” by Beijing residents.

AQI for Beijing and surrounding areas. Source: aqicn.org

Related Links

• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution March 16, 2014
• Chinese Cities Unfit for Living March 8, 2014
• You’ve Created a World Unfit for Living February 28, 2014
• Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China February 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China  February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398  February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
.

In case the toxic air pollution didn’t kill you…

You don’t have to be a Martian to realize not only homo erectus remain non-extinct, they go around masquerading as intelligent species…

Take the toxic air pollution, for example, which is plaguing all major cities in the world.

France restricts driving in Paris to reduce hazardous smog

The French are introducing alternative driving days in the City of Lights in an attempt to reduce hazardous levels of air pollution.

Starting Monday, drivers can only use their vehicles in Paris and surrounding areas every other day.

The government decided to curb driving after air pollution remained at hazardous levels for five consecutive days in the metropolitan Paris [population: ~ 13 million.]

The PM pollution was so severe on Friday, the authorities waved public transport fees for three days to encourage people to leave their cars at home.

The PM10 figures for Paris topped 180 micro-grams per cubic meter (μgm–³), while Brussels recorded 160, Amsterdam 110, Berlin 85 and London exceeded 80.

Smog is expected to worsen on Monday, reports said.

Beijing AQI

The Beijing AQI on Sunday was between 200 and 255, or “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy.”

Chinese Cities Unfit for Living

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
.

Nearly all Chinese cities monitored for pollution in 2013 failed to meet environmental standards: Senior official

About 96 Chinese cities monitored for pollution in 2013 failed to meet environmental standards, said Wu Xiaoqing, China’s vice-minister of environmental protection.

Of the 74 cities monitored by Beijing, 71 had various degrees of problems, said Wu at a news conference on Saturday, Reuters reported.

The only three cities that met the standard were the flood-prone city of Haikou in the island province of Hainan, Llasa, the capital of quake-prone Tibet, and the coastal resort city of Zhoushan.

China’s pollution problems can only be solved through fundamental changes to the way the country develops its economy, said Wu.

“When we were chasing GDP growth, we were also paying the price of pollution, and this price is heavy, is massive.”

“China will cut outdated steel production capacity by a total of 27 million tonnes this year, slash cement production by 42 million tonnes and also shut down 50,000 small coal-fired furnaces across the country, according to the government work report delivered by Premier Li on Wednesday,” said Xinhua.

Beijing AQI

Meanwhile, the Beijing AQI for PM2.5 hit 255 (Very Unhealthy) on Saturday, before falling slightly to 249, as of posting. [Temp: 4°C; range  -3°C to 12°C]

Related Links

• Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China February 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398  February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing  February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014
• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013
• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China

FIRE-EARTH Models show smog affecting at least 500millon people in China, or 37% of the population.

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
“APOCALYPTIC SMOG”
.

NO “Red Alert” for Beijing despite 6th consecutive days of hazardous smog

Satellite remote monitoring showed 980,000km², or 10 percent of the country,  blanketed by smog Sunday including Beijing and the provinces of Liaoning, Hebei, and Shanxi.

Beijing entered its six consecutive day of hazardous smog (AQI above 300), described by as “Apocalyptic smog” by the residents, on Tuesday. However, the authorities have failed to issue a “Red Alert” for the capital, breaking their own rules.

“A red alert indicates the most serious air pollution (AQI above 300) for three consecutive days. An orange alert indicates heavy to serious air pollution (AQI between 200 and 300) alternately for three consecutive days. A yellow alert indicates severe pollution for one day or heavy pollution for three consecutive days,” said a report.

Beijing was placed on “Yellow Alert” on Thursday, but the alert was upgraded to “Orange” for the first time on Friday, where it has stayed since.

The poisonous smog is forecast to linger until at least Thursday, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Smog shrouds the Imperial Palace in Beijing, China, Feb. 24, 2014. Many parts of China have been enveloped by poisonous smog since last week. The potentially deadly pollution will linger in Beijing until at least Thursday,  forecasters said.  (Photo: Xinhua/Li Wen)

Beijing AQI

PM2.5 AQI for Beijing was 413 , indicating a PM2.5 concentration of between 350.5 and 500.4  micrograms per cubic meter (µgm–³), as of posting. (PM10 AQI: 240+; Temp: 2°C ; Range: 0°C to 12°C; Pressure: 1028hpa).

Pollution levels below 15.4µgm–³ (AQI of up to 50) are considered as “safe.”

A formula for calculating the AQI from the concentrations of various air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2 …)  is posted HERE.

Related Links

• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398 February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing  February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014
• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013
• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
‘APOCALYPTIC SMOG’
.

Life-threatening smog choking N China won’t disperse anytime soon

 The potentially deadly smog is forecast to continue for at least three more days in Beijng, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces in north China, said the National Meteorological Center.

Beijing was finally placed on “orange alert”  for the first time on Friday. Municipal authorities have ordered manufacturing plants in the city to suspend or reduce production, and barbecues are disallowed, Xinhua reported.

Photo: xinhuanet.com

Beijing AQI

PM2.5 AQI for Beijing was 411 , indicating a PM2.5 concentration of between 350.5 and 500.4  micrograms per cubic meter (µgm–³), as of posting. (Temp: 7°C ; range -1 ° to 10°. Pressure: 1025hpa).

Pollution levels below 15.4µgm–³ (AQI of up to 50) are considered as “safe.”

A formula for calculating the AQI from the concentrations of various air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2 …)  is posted HERE.

Related Links

• Beijing 398 February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing  February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014
• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013
• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Beijing 398

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
APOCALYPTIC SMOG
.

KILL the SMOG or EVACUATE Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Liaoning, Shanxi, Shaanxi… before you run out of options!!

“Apocalyptic smog” smothered large parts of central, northern, northeastern and eastern China for the third consecutive day, reportedly prompting the Ministry of Environmental Protection to send 12 inspection teams to Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas to check the response to the pollution (!)

Beijing AQI.  Source: waqi. info

Related Links

• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing  February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014
• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013
• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
APOCALYPTIC SMOG
.

Hazardous Smog in China to Last for a Week: Officials

Beijing authorities on Thursday issued a derisory “Yellow Alert” for the Chinese Capital as heavy air pollution enveloped the region. The smog, previously described as “Apocalyptic” by the residents, is forecast to last for a week.

“Beijing, its neighbors Tianjin and Hebei Province, as well as central and western Shandong Province can expect heavy air pollution to linger for a week, according to a joint weather forecast issued by the China Meteorological Administration [CMA] and the Ministry of Environmental Protection,” said a report.

CMA believes the smog will last for a week because there is no cold front in sight to help disperse it, said the report.

PM 2.5 AQI had risen to 374 and PM10 concentration was hovering above 160µgm–³, as of posting.

Pollution levels below 15.4µgm–³ (AQI of up to 50) are considered as “safe.”

A formula for calculating the AQI from the concentrations of various air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2 …)  is posted HERE.

) as “safe.”

“Yellow” is the 2nd lowest of a four-tier alert system—red, orange, yellow, blue—indicating the severity of air pollution.

Map of air pollution in SEA. Source: waqi. info

“A red alert indicates the most serious air pollution (AQI above 300) for three consecutive days. An orange alert indicates heavy to serious air pollution (AQI between 200 and 300) alternately for three consecutive days. A yellow alert means severe pollution for one day or heavy pollution for three consecutive days,” said Xinhua.

Related Links

• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014
• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013

• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Smog and Mirrors in Beijing

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
.

Beijing issues a mere “blue alert” amid persistent toxic air pollution

The latest round of dense  smog in Beijing has now lasted several days, showing little sign of abating and triggering public criticism over the municipal government’s inaction, said a report.

“Blue” is the lowest of  a four-tier alert system indicating the severity of air pollution.

Source: waqi. info

Toxic Brown SEA. Source: waqi. info

Air Pollution Chart based on EPA recommendations.

Related Links

• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013

• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts, search blog content.