Air Quality Suffering in China Residents of Beijing and many other cities in China were warned to stay inside in mid-January 2013 as the nation faced one of the worst periods of air quality in recent history. The Chinese government ordered factories to scale back emissions, while hospitals saw spikes of more than 20 to 30 percent in patients complaining of respiratory issues, according to news reports. At the time that this Jan. 14 image was taken by satellite, ground-based sensors at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reported PM2.5 measurements of 291 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Fine, airborne particulate matter (PM) that is smaller than 2.5 microns (about one thirtieth the width of a human hair) is considered dangerous because it is small enough to enter the passages of the human lungs. Most PM2.5 aerosol particles come from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass (wood fires and agricultural burning). The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 to be safe when it is below 25. Also at the time of the image, the air quality index (AQI) in Beijing was 341. An AQI above 300 is considered hazardous to all humans, not just those with heart or lung ailments. AQI below 50 is considered good. On January 12, the peak of the current air crisis, AQI was 775 the U.S Embassy Beijing Air Quality Monitor—off the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scale—and PM2.5 was 886 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Credit: NASA/Terra - MODIS Click for high-res photo
Air Quality Suffering in China

Residents of Beijing and many other cities in China were warned to stay inside in mid-January 2013 as the nation faced one of the worst periods of air quality in recent history. The Chinese government ordered factories to scale back emissions, while hospitals saw spikes of more than 20 to 30 percent in patients complaining of respiratory issues, according to news reports.

At the time that this Jan. 14 image was taken by satellite, ground-based sensors at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reported PM2.5 measurements of 291 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Fine, airborne particulate matter (PM) that is smaller than 2.5 microns (about one thirtieth the width of a human hair) is considered dangerous because it is small enough to enter the passages of the human lungs. Most PM2.5 aerosol particles come from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass (wood fires and agricultural burning). The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 to be safe when it is below 25.

Also at the time of the image, the air quality index (AQI) in Beijing was 341. An AQI above 300 is considered hazardous to all humans, not just those with heart or lung ailments. AQI below 50 is considered good. On January 12, the peak of the current air crisis, AQI was 775 the U.S Embassy Beijing Air Quality Monitor—off the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scale—and PM2.5 was 886 micrograms per cubic meter.

Image Credit: NASA/Terra - MODIS

Notes

  1. fraumaggie reblogged this from anthrakia
  2. picaq reblogged this from crookedindifference
  3. iamstrychnine reblogged this from dbkasper
  4. comealon reblogged this from crookedindifference
  5. mylifeunexpected reblogged this from angelactose
  6. angelactose reblogged this from kristinlovespi
  7. barcuri reblogged this from crookedindifference and added:
    During a recent trip to China, I noticed how I developed a bit of my old “Smoker’s Cough.” Between the smog and the...
  8. kristinlovespi reblogged this from justinlikesfire
  9. coffeeisthecure reblogged this from apathetictranscendentalist
  10. graphitenpixels reblogged this from crookedindifference
  11. halogirl4041 reblogged this from crookedindifference
  12. sexdrugsanddeathmetal reblogged this from josemmonteiro
  13. lyneek reblogged this from crookedindifference
  14. penguillion reblogged this from crookedindifference
  15. kable-clear reblogged this from crookedindifference
  16. dbkasper reblogged this from crookedindifference and added:
    I almost thought they were talking about the U.S., because of all the oil derricks and factories and what not. Oh wait...
  17. kricket-wood reblogged this from inspirement
  18. stargirl2791 reblogged this from crookedindifference
  19. momothedelightful reblogged this from crookedindifference
  20. whynick reblogged this from crookedindifference
  21. probably-overreacting reblogged this from crookedindifference
  22. emnkondakci reblogged this from crookedindifference
  23. inspirement reblogged this from crookedindifference
  24. foreverhip reblogged this from crookedindifference
  25. mcrdotcom reblogged this from crookedindifference and added:
    Woah!