Heavy smog to hit northern China tomorrow night
Parts of Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin to be blanketed with severe pollution, poor visibility
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 16 October, 2014, 6:26pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 16 October, 2014, 6:26pm
Angela Meng [email protected]
A woman wearing a mask walks amid heavy haze and smog in Beijing last week. The smog is expected to return Friday night. Photo Xinhua
Heavy smog is expected to engulf northern China from tomorrow to Monday, weather.com.cn reported.
According to China’s Central Weather Bureau, from Friday night until Monday evening, some areas in northern China will see air quality PM2.5 levels rise to 500. A reading of more than 300 is considered severe pollution and a risk to even the healthiest bodies.
During this period, central Beijing will experience a visibility of 3 to 7km, as there will be moderate to severe pollution. Southeastern Beijing, middle and southern Hebei as well as Tianjin will be hit with severe haze with less than 1km of visibility.
Zhang Fanghua, the chief forecaster of the central weather bureau, said the severe haze was because there wasn’t enough cold air circulating in the atmosphere.
“On the night of the 20th, affected by cold air, the fog and haze in these areas will gradually weaken or dissipate from north to south,” Zhang said.
Zhang warned residents of these localities to minimise outdoor activities during the onset of smog, wear masks to prevent dust particles from entering the body and to wash their hands and face immediately when returning from outdoors. He also recommended residents consume a light, easily digestible diet rich in vitamins, with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and water to prevent dry lungs.
Last week, heavy smog blanketed Beijing for four days, forcing local authorities to take emergency measures and cut industrial emissions before cold winds hit the city and dispersed it.
Work was halted at 35 factories in the Beijing area, and all outdoor construction sites were ordered to be sprayed with water to reduce dust.
Air pollution has become a serious problem for China, causing asthma, bronchitis and acute and chronic respiratory symptoms.
Zhong Nanshan, a well-known respiratory disease expert, warned in 2012 that air pollution has the potential to become China’s biggest health threat.
“I’m staying in,” a media entrepreneur surnamed Zhou who resides in Beijing said when told of the forecast. “Otherwise, I’ll feel dizzy and tired after just being outside for 30 minutes.”
