Beijing atmosphere at dangerous pollution levels

Air pollution in China's Beijing capital has risen to the level of danger to human health, the index today said.

Indicators from official and informal monitoring stations all show that the pollution level on January 12 in Beijing has surpassed the danger posed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to a BBC correspondent, the atmosphere in the Chinese capital smells of coal dust and car smoke, two main sources of pollution here. The rapid economic development has made air quality in many cities in China lacking in cleanliness.

The BBC's correspondent says the atmosphere in Beijing yesterday smelled of coal dust and car smoke.

Until the afternoon of January 13, the air was so cloudy that the vision was limited to a few hundred meters in downtown Beijing. High-rise buildings disappeared in the cloud of mist.

According to the WHO guidelines, the average density of the smallest polluted particles, called PM2.5, should be no greater than 25 microgrammes / m ³ . Levels above 100 microgrammes are unhealthy and at 300, all the elderly and children must stay indoors.

Official indexes in Beijing yesterday showed pollution levels exceeded 400, while the unofficial index, measured at the US embassy, ​​rose to a record of 800.

When inhaling air in this environment, small molecules can cause respiratory infections as well as increased risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Last year, Chinese officials warned the US embassy not to publish the results of the agency. However, the embassy said that they performed measurements for the benefit of embassy staff.