Beijing: Beijing has started releasing hourly readings for key air quality data that are expected to better indicate the extent of the city's air pollution.
Beijing's environmental monitoring center began posting PM2.5 readings on its website on Saturday. They measure the amount of particles less than 2.5 micrometers in size that can penetrate deep into the lungs and are believed to pose the greatest risk to health.
It is the first time Beijing has publicly revealed PM2.5 data and follows calls by citizens on social networking sites worried about breathing gray and yellow air. Some people have even begun testing the air themselves around their neighbourhoods.
The hourly readings are taken at one monitoring site in the city.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, January 21, 2012, 15:03