The Air Quality in Beijing

In a world where man-made air pollutants is evidently damaging the atmosphere, it is ironic that Beijing, the capital of China and the host of the 2008 Olympics, is one of the cities with a serious problem in pollution. Based on a recent report, almost everyday, the Chinese capital is blanketed by a sooty mist which is mainly composed of ozone, a harmful substance to the lungs, and nitrogen oxide, a combustible element.

Other substances, such as sulfate and carbon are also present in the air which causes pollution levels to go up five times higher than the safety level recommended by the World Health Organization (USA Today, 2007).

The major contributors of the air pollution in Beijing are coal burning in the mining industry, gas stations, industrial factories and also the increasing number of road vehicles. The city has roughly 3 million vehicles and the number is increasing by more than 1,000 per day, which generates thick ground level air dust aside from the pollution in the atmosphere.
Moreover, while it is often sunny in Beijing, the sky is regularly hazy and the smog air is filled with carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles which could pose a problem for the participating Olympic athletes next year (Reuters).
However, despite the fact that the pollution in the Chinese capital is getting worse every year, according to a Chinese environmental officer, the national standard grade of the air is Grade 2, which he claims is suitable for any form of activity (Reuters).
Despite his claim, health officials of the World Health Organization said that pollution could cause very serious problems to people with heart complications or abnormal heart conditions (Reuters). Given the facts stated above, it is very clear that worsening air pollution is threatening the population in Beijing and also the environment.
If this problem is not addressed it could cause a significant amount of damage that could be difficult to reverse References Reuters. (2007). Beijing stops cars for Games clean air test. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www. reuters. com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK17354820070817?
feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&sp=true USA Today. (2007). Olympic inspectors to focus on air quality in Beijing. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www. usatoday. com/sports/olympics/summer/2007-10-23-beijing-air-quality_N. htm? csp=34