The quality of the air in Beijing, China improved greatly in the last 10 years. During this period, the concentration of PM2.5 – fine particles that can enter lungs and be harmful to health – dropped by half in the Chinese capital.  According to a study published on September 12th by AirVisual (the research department of IQAir, a Swiss air purifier company), the drop was recorded after a comparison was done between January and August 2009 and the same period in 2019.

From January to August 2019, the concentration level of these particles in Beijing was also 20% lower than in the same period in 2018. An additional drop of 2.5% is expected by the end of the year. This way, the Chinese capital might still make it off the list of the world’s 200 most polluted cities in 2019 issued by the Swiss company together with the NGO Greenpeace. Beijing placed 122nd in the 2018 ranking.

Pollution in China

Why is there so much pollution in China?
China is the world’s top emitter of polluting gases. The main reason for this is that China is also the main producer and consumer of coal. Coal is a mineral that is burned in plants to generate electric power.

How did pollution decrease in Beijing?
The government closed down the polluting factories located on the capital’s outskirts, began using natural gas instead of coal to supply energy, and also stopped trucks from circulating in the city (pollution can also be generated by burning the fuel used by vehicles).

Is this reduction enough for the city?
No. Although the pollution level in Beijing dropped quite a bit, it is still four times higher than the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), of 25 micrograms per cubic metre.

Questions

1) What can we correctly state about the quality of the air in Beijing?
a) It is the worst in the world.
b) It improved after the energy supply in the city became based on natural gas, among other changes.
c) It is 20 times better than 10 years ago.
d) It is within acceptable limits.

2) How is the air quality in your hometown?

 

Ixi! Você bateu no paywall!

Ainda não é assinante? Assine agora e tenha acesso ilimitado ao conteúdo do Joca.

Assinante? Faça Login

Voltar para a home

Ou faça sua assinatura e tenha acesso a todo o conteúdo do Joca

Assine

Enquete

Sobre qual assunto você gosta mais de ler no portal do Joca?

Comentários (0)

Compartilhar por email

error: Contéudo Protegido