A latest report from the State Environmental Protection Administration shows air quality reaches three grade or better than Level III in 94 percent of the total days in 2001, up from 61 percent in 1998. The days with Level II or better than second grade air quality accounts for 50.7 percent in 2001, 23 percent higher than that of 1998. However, the report also pinpoints three major problems in Beijing's atmosphere environment. [China's pollution reporting scale is as follows: Level I, superior; Level II, fair; Level III, slight pollution; Level IV, moderate pollution; Level V, heavy pollution.]

First, a gap still exists between urban air quality and the national standard. The average concentration of sulfur dioxide in 2001 was 0.064 mg per cubic meter, higher than both national and World Health Organization standards. The annual average of airborne particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs was 0.165 mg per cubic meter, also failing to meet national and WHO standard. The annual average silicon dioxide was 0.071 mg per cubic meter, lower than national standard of 0.080 mg per cubic meter standard, but still higher than the World Health Organization standard of 0.049 mg per cubic meter. Pollutants in the air such as small particles and organic pollutants join to make visibility pretty low. The daily average density of ozone could be up to 350 mg per cubic meter.

Second, pollution from the industrial sector remains a prominent problem, with no significant change as Beijing develops its economy based on an economy of self-reliance. Beijing's annual output of steel stands at 8 million tons, cement at 9 million tons, electricity at 18.1 billion kW. The coal consumption by the city's major industries accounts for 80 percent of the city's total consumption. The western industrial district, affected by mountain surface winds, contributes greatly to urban air pollution.

The third problem concerns dust pollution. Various kinds of floating dust account for 40 percent of the total amount of Suspended Particulate (TSP) matter. Floating dust pollution includes dust raised from local construction sites, bare lands and stockpiles in the Beijing area, along with some outside airborne dust. Seasonal bare farmland in Beijing amounts to 1.92 million mu (316,294 acres), accounting for 38 percent of Beijing's total farmland. Sand and stone mining areas and dry riverbeds in Beijing outskirts also have a noteworthy negative impact on Beijing's air quality.

(新华社[Xinhua News Agency ], translated by Alex Xu for www.china.org.cn, May 28, 2002 )