Despite Yellow-Gray Haze Over Beijing, Gov. Official Says No Need For Masks For Athletes - ENN

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's efforts to clear the skies over its polluted capital are having an effect, officials said on Friday, insisting that Beijing's air would be safe for Olympic athletes despite persistent smog over the city.

Beijing authorities have taken cars off the road and opened new subway lines in the past week, in addition to halting some construction and suspending factory production, in a last-ditch effort to ensure clear skies when the Games open on August 8.

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According to China's Air Pollution Index, 22 days this month have been "blue-sky days", Du said. But the index is not internationally recognized, does not calculate the cumulative effect of different pollutants and omits several of them. Experts say that decades of heavy industrial pollution, much of which wafts into Beijing from far-flung provinces, will be difficult to clear with stop-gap measures, especially in the hot and humid summer months.

"In the last few days there has not been significant rainfall or wind and the weather conditions in the last few days were not conducive to the diffusion of air-borne pollutants," Du said, explaining the yellow-grey haze over Beijing. But he said it was not necessary for athletes to bring face masks. "If they insist on doing so, it will only end up an extra item in their luggage and make their luggage heavier," Du said.

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http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/37766

are already landing in the hospital with breathing difficulties.

This is about as clear as the air is going to get there, where people use blocks of compressed coal for heating and cooking because it's cheap.

This is going to be deeply embarrassing to the Chinese government. They will finally be shamed into addressing the air quality in their country by finding ways to help their people get alternatives to filthy coal.

courtesy BBC

How 'bout y'all?

:eyes:

I was *hoping* to go get more plastic for my solarizing-teh-lawn project, but I don't think much sun is getting through here right now anyways. :(

/pity party