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A
man wears a mask due to red alert for air pollution in Beijing, on December 8,
2015 ©Greg Baker (AFP)
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Half of Beijing's private
cars were ordered off the streets Tuesday and many construction sites and
schools were closed under the Chinese capital's first-ever red alert for
pollution. A
grey haze descended on the city of around 21.5 million people, with levels of
PM2.5 -- harmful microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lungs -- at
one point above 300 micrograms per cubic metre according to the US embassy,
which issues independent readings.
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Beijing air
pollution ©AFP (AFP Graphic)
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The
World Health Organization's recommended maximum exposure is 25.
