Beijing expresses concern over smog but plays down US report
Staff Reporter 2013-07-14 08:55
Beijing covered by smog on June 28, below. The city remained shrouded in smog until heavy rain on July 2 cleared the air, above. (File photo/Xinhua)
Persistent air pollution has affected more then 600 million people in China since the beginning of this year as the smog shrouded one quarter of the country, according to a report released by the country's National Development and Reform Commission.
The report, which monitored 74 cities, showed the smog covered a wide area for long periods of time and contained high density of pollutants. The air quality in Beijing was only normal for five days in January.
Although the country's economic growth slowed in the first half of this year, its industrial energy consumption and the number of energy-intensive industries still increased rapidly. The report said if China only pursues stable economic growth, the country will not be able to reach its target of reducing sulfur dioxide, ammonia and nitrogen emission by 2%, 2.5% and 3% respectively.
Health issues linked to pollution in China have meanwhile drawn international attention. The New York Times reported this week that coal-burning in northern China has reduced 500 million local residents' life expectancy by 5.5 years on average compared to their southern counterparts, according to the state-run English-language newspaper China Daily.
The report was based on an article published by US scientific publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which investigated suspended particulate matter and death tolls in 90 Chinese cities between 1981 and 2000.
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection refuted the findings and said there is no direct connection between burning coal and life expectancy. Liu Zhiquan, an official with the ministry, said the samples used in the report were limited. Although air pollution can affect human health, it is yet to be confirmed that it can shorten lives, Liu said.
