WHO Warns China Over Unhealthy Air Pollution In Beijing

News outlets report on unhealthy levels of air pollution in Beijing, China.

BBC News: China pollution: Beijing smog masks tallest building
“As smog once again blankets Beijing, the BBC’s Martin Patience looks at the impact on China’s capital and its residents. Smog levels regularly top levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO)…” (Patience, 2/25).

Bloomberg News: China’s Smog Tops Hazardous Levels Before Congress Meeting
“Pollution in Beijing was stuck at unhealthy levels for the seventh straight day, prompting warnings for people to stay indoors as thick gray smog shrouded the capital a week before the annual meeting of China’s legislature…” (Shen, 2/25).

Bloomberg News: Xi Jinping Calls Pollution Beijing’s Biggest Challenge
“Chinese President Xi Jinping said pollution was Beijing’s biggest challenge as thick smog blanketing northern China cleared after seven straight days at hazardous levels…” (Peng/Turk, 2/27).

The Guardian: China’s toxic air pollution resembles nuclear winter, say scientists
“Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants — and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply…” (Kaiman, 2/25).

Wall Street Journal: WHO Warns Beijing of Hazardous Pollution Risk
“The World Health Organization on Tuesday called on China to improve its air quality and urged residents of Beijing to stay indoors as the capital city suffered a sixth day of hazardous-level air pollution…” (Burkitt, 2/25).

Wall Street Journal’s “China Real Time”: Pollution Bad, but Hard to Tell How Bad, Experts Say
“Leaders of the World Health Organization say they are concerned about the air quality and health effects on citizens amid a recent bout of heavy pollution in Beijing. Still, they said they were unsure of the specific toll air pollution takes on any one person’s body, casting doubts on local reports tying the region’s dirty air to particular cases of illness…” (Burkitt, 2/25).

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