As mentioned in part one of this little series on China’s air quality, Article 22 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution called for the establishment a monitoring system for atmospheric pollution. This system allows hourly, monthly, and annual AQI reports to be publically disclosed to the people. It’s an important system that helps protect the people in China while the issue of pollution is being rectified.
Yet, this is not the only way China strives to protect the public using its air quality monitoring systems. Established over two years ago, China has an alert system for observed and predicted AQI levels over the course of several days. These alerts are issued jointly by the China Meteorological Administration and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
The alert system has four tiers that are color coded: blue, yellow, orange, and red. As you might expect, the blue alert is considered the least dangerous. Yellow means there will be severe pollution for one day or heavy pollution for three consecutive days. The orange alert is triggered when the AQI is between 200 and 300. It indicates heavy to serious air pollution. On these days children and the elderly are advised to stay indoors while local residents are encouraged to use public transportation. Industrial plants are instructed to reduce production or close until the alert has passed.
Finally, the red alert. Triggered when the AQI rates the PM 2.5 concentration at 300 or higher for three consecutive days, this alert warns the people that this is the time most hazardous to public health. It’s not just a warning though. When a red alert is triggered, the government takes action to reduce the air pollution and further protect its people. More industrial plants will close or heavily limit production. Outdoor operations on construction sites will be banned. Kindergartens, primary schools, and high schools are encouraged or instructed to suspend classes. Traffic is cut by banning thirty percent of government cars on an odd and even basis, while civilian vehicles are also limited by when they can be used based on the odd and even numbers in their license plates.
Air quality conditions that trigger red alerts are usually pushed away when a cold front arrives. Until the alert is called off, it’s best to stay indoors, preferably where there are filtration systems for the air. However, if you have to travel, the odds are you might do so by public transportation. On the days of a red alert, public transportation can be flooded with an extra two million people. If you have a meeting to attend, make sure you leave earlier than normal. This can be difficult while trying to avoid the polluted air, but moving slower and with less exertion is far better for your health than hurrying and inhaling greater amounts of PM 2.5.