Beijing air quality slips four days ahead of Olympics, official remains confident
4/8/2008 17:04
After three consecutive days reporting top level air quality, Beijing's
pollution rating is expected to slip to the second level today, an official
said.
"By noon, the average air pollution index is likely to be around 80,"
said Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection deputy director Du
Shaozhong at a press conference on Olympics preparation. But the number is still
in line with the "blue sky" standard.
A pollution reading below 50 is classed
"excellent," 51 to 100 "fairly good," 101 to 200 "slightly polluted," 201 to 300
"poor," and over 301 is "hazardous," according to the bureau.
"Car
restrictions and other pollution-reduction measures are paying off, and the air
quality in July has improved compared with last year. Traffic-related pollution
had dropped significantly since July 20," said Du.
Figures for August 1 were
28, for August 2, 34, and for August 3, 35 on the index.
The city has imposed
an odd-even system based on licence plate numbers that will keep vehicles off
the road on alternate days from July 20 to Sept. 20.
Beijing's neighboring
municipality Tianjin and the nearby provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong,
plus the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, are also helping the capital to
attain its anti-pollution goals by closing major polluters, removing
high-emission cars from roads and restoring grassland vegetation.
Last month
saw 26 registered "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, three
days more than in the corresponding period last year, according to data from 27
monitoring station.
"We have maintained top level air quality for the past
three consecutive days, which is an unprecedented case in recent years," said
Du.
"We are confident in saying that if the situation remains stable then
measures will guarantee the air quality during the Olympic Games," said
Du.
Xinhua
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