New Gov't Report Shows China's Air Pollution Worries Going from Bad to Worse

(Beijing) – On March 25, the World Health Organization increased its estimate for the number of premature deaths related to air pollution in China every year from the previous 3.2 million to 7 million. On the same day, the Ministry of Environmental Protection released an annual report on air quality that included data that was even more worrisome.

The document was the first national air quality report since China began monitoring PM 2.5 – inhalable matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter that can damage the lungs – in 74 major cities on January 1, 2013.