Hazardous Air

HAZARDOUS AIR PM2.5: Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called "fine" particles. These particles, approximately 1/30 the average width of a human hair, can lodge deep in the lungs. Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion, including power plants, motor vehicles and residential wood burning. PM2.5 is easily inhalable and can penetrate deep into the lungs. PM2.5 allows many chemicals harmful to human health to be carried to the internal organs, causing a wide range of illnesses, including cancer (especially lung cancer), stroke and damage to unborn children. They have a strong association with most types of respiratory illnesses, heart disease and even deaths. PM2.5 vs. Visibility 5-10 km No special protection required 3-5 km Reduce outdoor activities BEIJING'S AIR QUALITY INDEX DATA IN THE PAST WEEK AQI DATA IN BEIJING ON JAN 12 Location AQI (the AQI number when pollution peaks) >700 Qianmen Dongdajie 500 2-3 km Reduce outdoor activities, especially for respiratory patients: wear a mask outdoors; stop outdoor physical exercise Less than 2 km Avoid all outdoor activities, especially for patients with respiratory ailments. however if outside wear a mask The Temple of Heaven 423 442 349 500 National 258 218 Agriculture 162 158 Exhibition Xizhimen 471 Olympic Park, Chaoyang District 457 Center 500 Beijing Botanical Garden 360 Groups sensi- tive to PM2.5: People with cardiac or respiratory diseases, the elderly, pregnant women and children. THE UNFORTUNATE 500 JAN 12 Cardiovascular system: Causes cardiotoxicity and severe irritation to the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the activity of the cardíac muscle. Beijing Shijiazhuang Xingtai Hengshui Tangshan Nantong Zhengzhou AQI SCALE 500 O >300 severely polluted Yancheng Guiyang Tianjin Handan Baoding Langfang Wuxi Wuhan 438 Changchun 385 Chengdu 368 Urumqi RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The soluble part of PM2.5 directly enters the bloodstream, while the insoluble part accumulates in the alveoli in the lungs, inflammation. GLOBAL ENERGY USAGE China accounted for 20.3 percent of global energy consumption in 2010, and this is likely to rise considerably. causing Nanjing Shenyang 341 Harbin 335 390 330 Hefei Qingdao POLLUTION CONTROL China plans to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia nitrogen by 10 percent below 2010 levels, and cut sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand by 8 percent between 2011 and 2015, all of which is expected to create a market worth $30 billion. BLOOD SYSTEM: Causes blood toxicity, coagula- tion abnormalities and can trigger heart disease. 311 379 Jinan 345 Changsha 337 Dalian 251-300 polluted Xi'an 333 323 LARGEST COAL CONSUMER 2011 ELECTRICAL GENERATION Total installed capacity of coal-fired power plants in China 933 gW Hydro 14.03% Nuclear Wind 1.85 % 1.55% Coal 82.54% 151-200 moderately polluted 650 gW REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: PM2.5 are attached to various types of pollutants PAHS (a group of volatile organic pollutants), causing placental blood toxicity that can harm fetuses. 800 such as heavy metals and 600 370 gW 101-150 lightly polluted 400 low birth weight in when PM2.5 exposure happens in the first month of pregnancy. .especially 2005 2010 2015 51-100 good <50 very good GUILLERMO MUNRO / CHINA DA Source: Bejing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center. China Electricity Council. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. General Administration of Customs, National Energy Administra- tion, Greenpeace. United States Environmental Protection Agency