New year firework frenzy to send Beijing pollution readings rocketing

[alp227]

The Beijing government has started informing the public about a hazardous form of air pollution as the population gears up for a new year firework frenzy that will see the skies filled with chemicals and particulates on Sunday night.

The Chinese capital's environmental authorities succumbed to public demands for transparency by publishing hourly readings of PM2.5, tiny particulates released by car exhausts and factory chimneys that raise the risks of lung diseases, heart problems and dementia.

The municipal government promised earlier this month that it would release this sensitive data before the start of the spring festival, which will usher in the year of the dragon on Monday.

After weeks of thick smog, the launch on Saturday coincided with clear blue skies due to sharp winds, the festive closure of factories and a lack of traffic on the roads.

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/22/new-year-fireworks-beijing-pollution

[David__77]

1. They may consider cooling it with the fireworks.

It's great that the pollution levels will be publicized. They have a lot of work to do to reduce those levels.