Beijing smog has caused the government to issue a second red alert in one month as China’s massive capital was enveloped in a thick cover of hazardous smog. As per the U.S. embassy's Air Quality Index for Beijing, the pollution levels were at 303 PM2.5 on Saturday.
The first red alert was issued on December 7, resulting in a complete shutdown of the national capital. The red alert smog warning implies that the city will reel under dangerous smoggy conditions for another 72 hours. This smog could be worse than the previous one and may cross the 500 mark, which is 20 times the safety level prescribed by the World Health Organization.
Schools have been closed and half of the cars will be off the roads each day. Not only this, but factories have also been ordered to remain shut until the alert lifts up. Outdoor smoke sources, as well as barbeque grills, have also been restricted to bring down the pollution levels in the capital city of China.
As per a report by the World Health Organization, every year between 350,000 and 1 million people die a premature death due to high pollution levels in China. During the red alert, people with any kind of respiratory problems have been warned not to spend too much time outside. High pollution levels can cause asthma attacks, and result in several heart and lung diseases.
The residents of Beijing and North China have taken measures to fight air pollution in the country. People wear face masks and have also put air filters in their homes so as to breathe cleaner air in their homes. Beijing smog is likely to worsen during the next two to three days.
Image Credit: channelnewsasia.com
