Worst Air Ever in Beijing

Beijing residents woke up on Thursday to find the capital smothered in thick layer of appalling smog. The PM2.5 index reached 500 across much of the capital, early in the day. A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organization recommends a daily level of no more than 20. PM2.5 refers to particulate with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. The CCTV Building located in the CBD vanished into the smog. Many commuters like 25-year-old TV producer Mi Xi walked to work wearing face masks. "I checked on the weather in the morning, and it said that the air pollution is very serious, so I wear my face mask. In terms of the effect on me, personally I have nasal inflammation, and today it's really awful. Often I worry that the air pollution is sabotaging my health." China's cities are among the world's most polluted and Beijing regularly sees hazardous levels of air pollution. Local authorities have unveiled a new smog alert system that will impose curbs on driving and halt manufacturing and construction if three consecutive days of hazardous pollution are forecast. They have also announced plans to burn gas to generate power instead of coal, which is a major contributor to the smog. But Lan Wenxian, a doctor, says she has already had enough of the city. "The pollution is really terrible. Recently I have had a bad cold all the time, have difficulty breathing and the phlegm that I cough up is black. I'm planning to leave Beijing. I don't want to stay here any more." Four highways around Beijing were temporarily closed because of the smog on Thursday morning. The smog was forecast to last until Friday (January 17) morning.