Air Pollution In Beijing: What's In The Air?

Beijing's air pollution is a well-known issue, with the city earning the title of Airpocalypse and being named one of the most polluted cities on Earth. The air pollution in Beijing is caused by a variety of factors, including industrial emissions, traffic fumes, and coal power. The city has been taking steps to improve its air quality, including transitioning to electric buses and limiting the use of coal-fired boilers. Despite these efforts, Beijing's air pollution remains a serious issue, with levels of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) reaching 22 times higher than the World Health Organization's guidelines. This has led to negative impacts on human health, with vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly being advised to reduce outdoor exercise.

Industrial emissions from heavy industries

Beijing, China, is facing significant air quality issues due to industrial emissions from heavy industries. These emissions contribute to the city's poor air quality and have adverse effects on the health and well-being of its residents.

One prominent source of industrial emissions in Beijing is the metallurgical and mining industry. Beijing Jianlong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd. is a significant player in this sector, specialising in mineral mining and processing. They extract and refine various metals, including iron, copper, molybdenum, vanadium, and phosphate. These processes can release harmful pollutants into the air, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

The shipbuilding industry is another heavy industry in Beijing that contributes to air pollution. The construction and outfitting of ships involve the use of paints, solvents, and other chemicals, which can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants. Additionally, the burning of fossil fuels by ships can release nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.

Moreover, heavy industries often rely on coal-fired power plants to meet their energy demands. These power plants emit a range of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and mercury. The combustion of coal also releases carbon dioxide, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The release of these pollutants from heavy industries has severe health implications for Beijing's residents. Fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5 and PM10, can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and respiratory infections. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are also associated with respiratory problems and can aggravate existing heart and lung conditions.

To address the air pollution caused by heavy industries, Beijing has implemented various measures, including real-time air quality monitoring systems and the publication of air quality indices. These initiatives provide valuable data and raise awareness among the public about the city's air quality. Additionally, the development and enforcement of environmental regulations and the promotion of cleaner production technologies in the industrial sector are crucial steps towards improving Beijing's air quality and safeguarding the health and well-being of its citizens.

Traffic fumes from crowded roads

Beijing's air pollution crisis is closely tied to its congested roads. The city's rapid economic growth has resulted in an ever-increasing number of vehicles on the roads, leading to serious traffic congestion. This congestion has significant consequences, including extended commute times, reduced productivity, and economic losses for the city.

The problem is particularly acute for residents living near the 5th and 6th Ring Roads, who face some of the longest commutes in the city. The average drive for these residents is over an hour each way, and the roads can become extremely crowded after 9 am. This situation is further exacerbated by the limited scope for additional road construction within the 5th Ring Road, leaving little room for expansion to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.

The Beijing Municipal Committee has attributed the traffic congestion to two main factors: the rapid increase in vehicles outpacing the development of roads, and the rising popularity of affordable electric vehicles. The latter trend, influenced by the price war started by electric carmaker Tesla, has put even more vehicles on the streets of Beijing.

To address the issue, the government has focused on expanding the city's subway network. As of March 2023, Beijing's subway system spanned 807 kilometers, with plans to construct 12 additional lines and six railways in the same year. This strategy aims to strike a balance between managing congestion and encouraging the use of public transportation.

The impact of traffic fumes from crowded roads in Beijing is a significant contributor to the city's air pollution crisis, with transportation being one of the major factors alongside industry, coal power plants, and household solid fuel usage.

Coal-fired power plants and boilers

Beijing's air pollution has historically been attributed to coal-fired power plants and boilers. In 2021, authorities shuttered all coal-fired plants and encouraged residents to replace coal-fired boilers with natural gas and electricity. This has resulted in a significant drop in sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.

Beijing's ongoing "war on pollution" has led to a notable improvement in air quality. Data from 2019 shows that the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fell by 14.3% in the first 11 months, which is a 53% reduction since the air quality-monitoring network was launched in 2013.

However, the average concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing in 2019 was still 42 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding China's national air quality standard of 35 and the World Health Organization's recommended upper limit of 10. This highlights the need for further improvements.

Coal-fired power plants have long been recognized as a primary source of air pollution globally, and China's power generation is heavily reliant on coal. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to address this issue, such as the Emission Standard of Air Pollution for Coal-fired Power Plants and the Comprehensive Implementation of Coal-fired Power Plants Ultra-Low Emissions and Energy-saving Transformation Program. These initiatives have led to substantial emission reductions, particularly in SO2 emissions, which decreased from 85.89 million tons in 2012 to 3.74 million tons in 2020.

Additionally, China ratified the Minamata Convention in 2017 to mitigate highly toxic mercury (Hg) emissions, primarily targeting coal-fired power plants. China committed to reducing Hg emissions through retrofitting measures, including the closure of small unit coal-fired power plants, the installation of efficient air pollution control devices, and improving power generation efficiency. These measures have resulted in a reduction of Hg emissions by 23.5 tons between 2011 and 2015, preventing 114 deaths and 30,484.77 points of IQ decrement.

Nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide

Beijing's air pollution has been a cause for concern for many years, with the city's poor air quality having a significant impact on the health of its residents. Among the various air pollutants present in Beijing, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) are three of the most common and harmful gases.

Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive gas that is formed primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas. Vehicle emissions, power plants, and industrial processes are major sources of nitrogen dioxide in Beijing. This pollutant can irritate the respiratory system, exacerbating respiratory conditions such as asthma and contributing to the development of respiratory infections. It is also a precursor to the formation of other harmful pollutants, including ground-level ozone, which can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

Sulphur dioxide is another significant air pollutant in Beijing. It is produced mainly from the burning of sulphur-containing fuels, particularly in industrial processes and power generation. Exposure to sulphur dioxide can have serious health consequences, including respiratory issues and an increased risk of lung cancer. In the past, sulphur dioxide-fuelled smog has engulfed many Chinese provinces and cities, leading to a "war on pollution" declared by Premier Li Keqiang in 2014. Since then, China has made significant progress in reducing sulphur dioxide emissions, with levels falling to less than a third of their previous amount by 2019.

Carbon monoxide is a toxic and colourless gas that is produced through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. In Beijing, carbon monoxide emissions come primarily from vehicle exhaust, industrial activities, and the burning of solid fuels for cooking and heating. Carbon monoxide poses a serious health risk as it can bind to red blood cells, interfering with oxygen transport in the body and leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a significant contributor to the high rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases associated with air pollution.

The presence of these pollutants in Beijing's air has far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of its residents. The fine particles and aerosols that comprise these pollutants can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing a range of diseases, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The social and economic impacts of air pollution are also significant, affecting people's quality of life and contributing to approximately 2 million deaths per year in China alone.

Lack of environmental standards

Beijing's air pollution is a result of several factors, one of which is the lack of stringent environmental standards and lax environmental regulations. This is closely tied to China's economic growth model, which has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels, particularly coal, for energy and industrial development.

China's rapid industrialization and economic development have led to an overreliance on investment in heavy industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and chemicals. These industries are major contributors to air pollution, emitting harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. The lack of strict environmental standards has allowed these industries to operate with fewer constraints, exacerbating the air quality issues in Beijing and other Chinese cities.

Beijing's air pollution crisis reached a critical point during the 2008 Olympic Games, when temporary measures were implemented to improve air quality for the duration of the competitions. However, it was not until 2013 that Beijing authorities launched their first comprehensive action plan to address the issue. The "2013-2017 Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan" acknowledged the severity of the problem and aimed to safeguard public health and promote sustainable growth.

This plan included various measures such as limiting the use of coal-fired boilers, providing cleaner fuels for residential heating, restructuring industries to reduce emissions, and repairing degraded ecosystems to prevent dust pollution. The budget for fighting air pollution in Beijing increased significantly during this period, reflecting the city's commitment to improving air quality.

While Beijing has made notable progress in reducing air pollution, the issue remains a serious concern. Researchers and advocates continue to call for more stringent air quality standards and increased focus on controlling ozone and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Addressing the lack of environmental standards and implementing stricter regulations will be crucial in Beijing's ongoing battle against air pollution.

Frequently asked questions