China's capital smothered in smog, old and weak urged to stay indoors

China's capital smothered in smog, old and weak urged to stay indoors

SOURCE: AFP (10/8/04)

BEIJING - Air pollution in Beijing thickened shrouding the capital in a nasty haze, while the sick and elderly were warned to stay indoors.

According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, the capital's air quality index was listed at five for the second day running, which is the lowest ranking on a five-point scale, signifying hazardous air quality.

Visibility in parts of the capital was reduced to 500 meters falling from 1,500 meters on Tuesday, the Beijing News reported.

Suspended particulate matter was listed as the chief pollutant.

"The high level of pollution is harmful to the health and can cause respiratory and lung disease, so we propose that everyone make an effort to reduce their outdoor activities," the paper, citing meteorological experts, said.

"Old people, those weak or infirmed should not go outdoors."

Haze would continue to shroud the capital until at least Saturday because of a lack of strong winds, it said.

Visibility was so poor on Thursday that a French aerobatic show scheduled to launch the "Year of France" in China was cancelled and some 50,000 tickets refunded.

Coal burning and a rapid rise in automobiles have contributed to Beijing's air quality being consistently ranked as among the worst in the world.

Over the past two days, the capital's air pollution has been the most severe in China.

Making matters worse, the end of a week-long National Day holiday ensured that Beijing's roads would be clogged with cars Friday as the city went back to work, the China Daily said.

Work at construction sites, another major source of the city's pollution, would also restart Friday.

"The air pollution in the last days of the holiday was a wake up call for the city's environmental protection workers to strengthen the supervision on industrial emissions, smoke from burning coal and vehicle emissions," the paper said.