Lather, Choke, Repeat; Smog In Beijing, Across Northern China, Off-The-Charts Bad Again

[hatrack]

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

Beijing is choking on thick, brown smog after air pollution levels skyrocketed on Monday to more than 20 times what the World Health Organization considers to be safe. The oppressive pollution has prompted China to issue its highest air quality alert so far this year.

Reuters reports authorities are blaming “unfavorable weather” and coal fires for the oppressive smog, which are lit by the poor for heat in winter. But that’s really only half the story — coal-fired power plants are also in overdrive since last week’s wintry blast. Temperatures were running as low as 25 degrees below normal for this time of year in northeast China for much of the past week. When the excessive power use for heating combined with stagnant high pressure, Beijing’s air quality took a nose-dive.

In terms of health impacts, the air quality in Beijing and other parts of northeast China is off the charts. On Monday, the air quality index measured at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reached a staggering 611 for small particulate matter. In the U.S., the EPA considers an index over 100 to be unhealthy. At an index over 300, the air quality “would trigger a heath warning of emergency conditions,” reads airnow.gov. “The entire population is more likely to be affected.”

Particle pollution of this tiny size, just 2.5 micrometers, is incredibly hazardous to health, and even more so at these extraordinary levels. According to the EPA, particles smaller than 10 micrometers are the most dangerous to health because they can embed deep in the lungs. Some of the particles are even small enough to enter the bloodstream directly through the lungs.

EDIT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/11/30/beijing-chokes-on-off-the-charts-air-pollution-as-thick-smog-settles-over-northern-china/