China chokes on smog

China’s government reported that air pollution increased to unhealthy levels in over 62 cities for 15 days during December. Affected areas included Hebei Province (surrounding Beijing), the Yangtze River delta, the Pearl River delta, Nanjing, Huai’an (in Jiangsu province) and Shanghai. 

When measuring levels of particulate matter, a top reading of 500 is deemed “hazardous” and people are told to avoid all outdoor activity; in Beijing, at one point, the level peaked at around 700. The smog in Beijing decreased visibility in some areas to as little as 33 feet, making it impossible to discern tops of skyscrapers a few blocks away. 

At international airports of large cities, planes are able to use instruments for auto-landing, but many domestic airports do not have that equipment. The surge in air pollution comes from coal-burning power plants and factories as well as increased automobile traffic.