Beijing Pollution to Last All Week, Probably All Winter

As temperatures drop in northern China, be sure to grab your coat, gloves, scarf and … mask as you head out the door. After Shenyang’s record-high pollution rates on Sunday, when AQI measurements of PM2.5 soared to a toxic 1,400, followed by similarly hazardous levels in Jilin and Changchun Monday, Beijing’s Environmental Protection Bureau announced Tuesday that the big smog would remain for the next five days – a curious date to end their pollution forecast as Sunday just so happens to be Gong Nuan Ri 供暖日, or ‘Heating Day,’ the day the city officially turns on the government-subsidized heat in every home.

Among the many factors contributing to air pollution (cars, factories, chuan’r vendors), discharge from heating systems on full blast in cold weather is the prime suspect in winter months.

This year, according to the Beijing Youth Daily, the capital began testing and, well, warming up the public heating pipes a week earlier than usual, a process carried out to ensure that every Beijingren’s home reaches a shufu 18°C (64°F) by November 15. Based on the air quality during the testing phase, when only some Beijing residences get heating, we can’t say we’re optimistic the smog will clear after the heating comes on citywide.

[Image via Breaking Energy]