China is witnessing smog so thick that people are turning to televised sunsets on large LED screens across the capital Beijing.
Quality of air in Beijing is usually bad. And during winters it becomes worse as the stagnant weather patterns combined with an increase in coal-burning aggravate pollution and heavy smog for days at a time, reported Daily Mail.
"I couldn't see the tall buildings across the street this morning,' said Zhang, a traffic coordinator at Beijing. "The smog has gotten worse in the last two to three years. I often cough, and my nose is always irritated. But what can you do? I drink more water to help my body discharge the toxins."
Last year, officials recorded the air quality in Beijing at PM ( particulate matter) 2.5 - such small particles are tiny enough to get into lungs and affect breathing - hit 993 micrograms per cubic meter, the tabloid reported. This week Beijing has recorded 500 micrograms per cubic meter for the first time ever.
According to the World Health Organization a daily level of more than 20; and 300 micrograms per cubic meter of air quality is dangerous.
The State Council has made it compulsory to lower the sulfur content for both petrol and diesel from 50 parts per million to 10 ppm. This was implemented last year in Beijing.
However, the mandate is not doing any good in Beijing. According to the Daily Mail, Beijing's mayor vowed Thursday to cut coal use by 2.6 million tons.
Beijing is not the only city facing pollution problem. Last December, Shanghai reported PM 2.5 readings exceeding 600 and the northeastern city of Harbin reported PM 2.5 readings going up to 1,000.
