Problems
Air pollution in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
Hebei is the largest steel producer and the most polluted province in China. According to China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, five of the country's 10 most polluted cities are in Hebei, including its administrative center, Shijiazhuang. The smog clouds that linger over Beijing are usually caused by Hebei's steel mills. Air pollution levels have already reached critical levels. Because of this, in the northern Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, city officials said that the city would audit everything from coal-fired power plants to crematoriums and even public toilets. City officials in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, have given all 52 crematoriums in the city until the end of October to replace or upgrade their furnaces to meet emissions standards, according to a statement on the government website. Chemical, metallurgical, non-ferrous metal and coking plants must install ultra-low-emission equipment by the same deadline. The measures are among 44 measures outlined in a 2018 action plan released by the city government that aims to reduce emissions in sectors such as transportation, construction, and surface mining. But sources of pollution from residential development have also been noted, and Shijiazhuang has banned outdoor barbecues and the sale of fireworks. City officials have also promised to take action against the "stinky" air emitted by waste transfer stations and public toilets. The smog-prone city aims to reduce particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, a dangerous air pollutant known as PM2.5, to 74 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018, down 14 percent from 2017. PM2.5 pollution is considered especially dangerous because the particles can settle deep in the lungs. Shijiazhuang achieved a 13.7 percent reduction in PM2.5 last year, but it still ranks seventh in air pollution among 365 cities in the country, according to data collected by Greenpeace. To address the problem, Hebei province has set up a "system of fines and incentives" to encourage local cities to improve air quality. Shijiazhuang authorities said they would also impose a system of fines to encourage local industrial enterprises to take "ironclad pollution control measures." They have also asked industrial companies to be prepared to take measures to limit production capacity, but a detailed plan has not yet been released.
Gallery
7
Timelines
2021
September 30
Despite having a reputation for much-polluted air, Shijiazhuang was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 57. This classification is in line with the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organisation). The measured concentrations of the pollutants were as follows: PM2.5 - 15 µg/m³, PM10 - 33 µg/m³, ozone (O3) - 78 µg/m³, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - 12 µg/m³, sulfur dioxide (SO2) - 5 µg/m³ and carbon monoxide (CO) - 328 µg/m³. With levels as high as these, the advice would be to close doors and windows to stop the dirty air from getting inside and those of a sensitive disposition should avoid going outside until the air quality improves.
2019
June 05
In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, home to 110 million people, Hebei produces the most air pollution, responsible for 70% of PM 2.5 emissions, the air pollutant that poses the greatest health risk. The province has the highest annual average concentrations of PM 2.5.
2016
December 13
Much of northern China has been shrouded in heavy smog since early December, prompting nine cities to declare a red alert and affecting at least 50 other cities in seven provinces. This latest smog attack prompted the first use of the so-called unified warning system by local authorities in China's National Capital Region, which includes Hebei province and the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin. The system, announced in October, is designed to unify the classification standards for severe pollution alerts and strengthen regulations on pollutant emissions.
December 05
Meanwhile, all schools in Shanghai suspended outdoor activities after the city's AQI reached 227.
December 04
It looks like the blanket of smog is now spreading to other parts of the country. More than 20,000 travelers were delayed at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in the southwestern province of Sichuan.
December 03
On the third of December the air quality index (AQI) in the northern Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, exceeded 500, the maximum value, and remained there until Monday.