Air pollution reaches hazardous levels in Beijing and other cities in China

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi provinces have issued an orange alert, the second highest level on a four-tier system, when the air quality index reached hazardous levels. Toxic air pollution is covering many cities, including Xingtai, Shijiazhuang, Dingzhou and Yangquan. According to the China Meteorological Administration, eighteen highways linking Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai had to be closed.

To improve air quality for the APEC meetings, Beijing will restrict the use of private vehicles by 35 percent, and all vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals and/or construction waste will be barred from roads in the capital. The restriction does not apply to public transportation.