China's smog 2014 levels have undeniably increased to a very compromising tier such that authorities have now raised orange alert in certain places, especially in the northern part of China.
According to Bloomberg, China's smog 2014 levels have led Beijing to raise its pollution alert to orange, which is considered as the second-highest level, because of the clouding smog all over north China. The said alert level mandates that industrial production in the area should be limited so as not to boost the alarming levels of smog in the air even more.
Authorities from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center said the concentration of PM2.5 particulates was already 445 micrograms per cubic meter at 5 p.m. near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. World Health Organization only recommends exposure to PM2.5 at concentrations no higher than 25 for 24 hours.
Residents are now asked to cut down on their outdoor activities because of the alarming China smog 2014 levels.The elderly and people with heart and lung ailments are even strictly advised to stay inside establishments and their homes.
The announcement that the alert level is already orange comes a day after the pollution alert was identified as yellow. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau said the yellow alert only called for increased road cleaning and spraying of water at construction sites. Apart from the health hazard the China smog 2014 levels bring, there is also the reduced visibility of the road and traffic signs such that authorities were compelled to close several highways out of Beijing.
Xinhua News Agency reports the risky smog levels were brought about the burning of stalks by farmers in time for the autumn harvest. Farmers reportedly burn stalks on their lands following the autumn harvest and authorities noted that this may have greatly contributed to the increment in China's smog 2014 levels.
Pedestrians could noticeably be seen wearing masks as they stroll Beijing streets. Buildings and large structures are also obscured by the thick haze, noted The Guardian. China's water and air supply are said to be at a "critical level" already since only three out of the 74 cities meet national air quality standards.
As of late, Beijing is already planning to impose more ways of controlling the air pollutants, similar to the ones they strictly enacted ahead of the 2008 Olympics. The city is expected to once again impose alternate-day driving restrictions while government agencies and departments will have Nov. 7-12 off and public schools will also be closed during the said dates.
Last month, Beijing fined hundreds of companies over $2 million in light of its anti-air-pollution campaign. Monitoring authorities forecast that the alarming China smog 2014 levels will remain until Saturday.
There are also reports claiming that the pollution problem would persist until Friday morning only, according to Turkish Weekly.
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