Source: CNBC
More than 220 flights at Beijing's Capital International Airport were canceled Friday as pollution caused poor visibility, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
Beijing's pollution alert level was upgraded to yellow on Friday from Thursday's blue, Xinhua reported Friday, noting that the four color-coded levels, in order from most severe to least, are red, orange, yellow and blue. Beijing has issued two red alerts in December -- its only two ever. A red alert dramatically limits car use, advises schools to close, shuts down outdoor construction sites and closes certain industrial plants.
The air quality index readings, or the PM2.5 level, which measures airborne particles up to 2.5 micrometers, touched 500 around midday Friday, Xinhua said. These particles are considered particularly dangerous, because they can enter the lungs and make their way into the bloodstream.
Anything above 100 is considered unsafe for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with respiratory problems. Anything above 150 is "unhealthy," above 200 is "very unhealthy," and above 300 is "hazardous."
Effects of going out in that kind of smog include "serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in general population."
The polluted air in China's major cities is a visible reminder of the country's reliance on fossil fuels for its rapid economic expansion over the last few decades.
Coal is the highest carbon emitter among commonly used fossil fuels, and about two-thirds of China's overall energy comes from coal burning, according to the Energy Information Administration. China is the world's largest user of coal, and some evidence suggests the country may be burning even more of it than previously thought.
-Robert Ferris contributed to this article.
More than 220 flights at Beijing's Capital International Airport were canceled Friday as pollution caused poor visibility, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
Beijing's pollution alert level was upgraded to yellow on Friday from Thursday's blue, Xinhua reported Friday, noting that the four color-coded levels, in order from most severe to least, are red, orange, yellow and blue. Beijing has issued two red alerts in December -- its only two ever. A red alert dramatically limits car use, advises schools to close, shuts down outdoor construction sites and closes certain industrial plants.
The air quality index readings, or the PM2.5 level, which measures airborne particles up to 2.5 micrometers, touched 500 around midday Friday, Xinhua said. These particles are considered particularly dangerous, because they can enter the lungs and make their way into the bloodstream.
Anything above 100 is considered unsafe for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with respiratory problems. Anything above 150 is "unhealthy," above 200 is "very unhealthy," and above 300 is "hazardous."
Effects of going out in that kind of smog include "serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in general population."
The polluted air in China's major cities is a visible reminder of the country's reliance on fossil fuels for its rapid economic expansion over the last few decades.
Coal is the highest carbon emitter among commonly used fossil fuels, and about two-thirds of China's overall energy comes from coal burning, according to the Energy Information Administration. China is the world's largest user of coal, and some evidence suggests the country may be burning even more of it than previously thought.
-Robert Ferris contributed to this article.
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