In a recent Greenpeace survey, Xinjiang and Henan were revealed to be China's most polluted provinces in the first quarter 2016. The rankings also found that pollution was significantly worse in western provinces. The survey analyzed data from 362 cities across China and used air quality readings downloaded hourly from the China National Environment Monitoring Center.
All of the worst 20 cities surpassed 100 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter, which is apparently 10 times the limit deemed safe by the World Health Organization.
The worst 20 only featured cities from Xinjiang, Henan, Hebei and Shandong provinces. Kashgar, Xinjiang, topped the list as the most polluted city in China, with an average of 276.1 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter. In total, seven out of the 20 most polluted cities were located in Xinjiang province.
The provinces with the lowest PM2.5 readings were Hainan, Tibet and Fujian.
Here's the full list of the 20 most polluted cities in China:
1. Kashgar, Xinjiang
2. Wujiaqu, Xinjiang
3. Urumqi, Xinjiang
4. Hetian, Xinjiang
5. Kizilsu Prefecture, Xinjiang
6. Xinxiang, Henan
7. Zaozhuang, Shandong
8. Shihezi, Xinjiang
9. Zhoukou, Henan
10. Heze, Shandong
11. Shangqiu, Henan
12. Liaocheng, Shandong
13. Jiaozuo, Henan
14. Dezhou, Shandong
15. Luoyang, Henan
16. Hengshui, Hebei
17. Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang
18. Luohe, Henan
19. Zhengzhou, Henan
20. Jining, Shandong
In terms of provinces, western Chinese provinces showed higher levels of pollution. Greenpeace analysts suggested that policies in the eastern regions, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, have been effective in reducing amounts of PM2.5. Despite this, policies still need to be implemented in eastern and central China.
Here's how the Chinese provinces fared in terms of average PM2.5 levels:
1. Xinjiang
2. Henan
3. Hubei
4. Shandong
5. Hebei
6. Shaanxi
7. Anhui
8. Jiangsu
9. Tianjin
10. Shandong
11. Beijing
12. Chongqing
13. Hunan
14. Sichuan
15. Shanghai
16. Zhejiang
17. Ningxia
18. Jilin
19. Liaoning
20. Jiangxi
21. Guangxi
22. Gansu
23. Qinghai
24. Guizhou
25. Inner Mongolia
26. Heilongjiang
27. Shandong
28. Yunnan
29. Fujian
30. Tibet
31. Hainan
The Greenpeace survey also called for a national coal consumption cap in China's upcoming 13th Five Year Plan for Energy Development, which would help control carbon emissions. To see the full media briefing and report, click here.
[Image via Montesquieu-Volvestre]
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