One month before the Olympics, the dirtiest air in China is in Beijing

Despite advertised measures to decrease pollution, as the one-month countdown to the Beijing Olympics approaches, the government's numbers rank Beijing as having the dirtiest air in China.

With a rating of 98, officially a "blue sky day" but only by two points, Beijing yesterday had the dirtiest air among monitored cities according to the Chinese government Web site that releases daily pollution figures.

Only four other cities, including the capitals of Sichuan, Qinghai, and Liaoning Provinces, ranked above 90 on the scale.

This does not mean that the air will not get cleaner this month. Large numbers of personal vehicles, as well as cargo trucks that do not have Beijing license plates, will be taken off the roads in efforts to reduce car pollution. Additionally, the hyperactive construction with huge numbers of buildings scheduled for completion or undergoing rushed renovation before the Games will stop completely late this month when a citywide construction freeze goes into effect.

The government is planning drastic measures. I hope for the sake of the athletes, visitors, and Beijing residents that they have clear, clean skies. But let's not kid ourselves: the pollution problem in Beijing is not going to go away any time soon. Cleaning up for two weeks may be a nice show, but the city really needs drastic measures. My favorite option: even bigger car taxes than exist now, and get that subway going.

[k2dave]

The Olympics are still a bit away, and things could change, but it does seem like so much is going wrong. Their water is ruined with algae, their air is ruined by pollution and not to mention the major earthquakes. It appears, at least from here, like the Chinese government is battling God Himself. I don't know if that's what is happening, but it just seems like so much is going wrong there.

[tzopa143]

Olympic used to be a sport for the athletics. But not the one that is happening in this summer 2008 in Beijing. China wants the world to think their Summer game as sports. But they use as politic. Nothing else behind that. They are taking the advantage of the business that they are having now . I wander why can?t the rest of the worlds leader understand it and how long they need to know China.
I fell China is a threat to us (USA ) more then rest of the world not even Iran or Iraq.
To Those our atlantics for you These coming Summer game that is taking place in Beijing is Sports, but not for ICO, CHINA and president Bush. For them it is a business and politic.
(1) Reason for that is first of all China doesn?t have the resource and the rights to be host from Human rights, freedom speech , etc.
(2) Why president Bush has to be at the opening ceremony. Is there any president of united state attended at opening ceremony of Olympic game.
(3) China happen to be the host of the game because to business and politic not for a sport.
I am worried for safeties of the athletics and innocent general public who are trying to get in Beijing.
I will say to them think twice before they are there.
Thanks

[Tsee-1968031069905097881578618]

What is happening is industrial growth, when developed nations export their industries. When everything's made in China, the pollution will be made there, too. Nothing to be surprised about.

Let's just hope God's not involved. He's done enough in the Old Testaments already.

[sanenazok]

China could care less about God, they're commies remember? It sure is nice of them to just say "all cars out" and "construction must stop." If London or a city in the U.S. tried to do that then there would be a backlash and lawsuits. Guess that's why they're a capitalist dictatorship. Also, I wouldn't take any of their numbers as "fact," there's spin the U.S. EPA (and the gawd-awful state EPA's) so I would trust the communists even less.

[Sybil_Lincoln]

We did it in L. A. Traffic was practically nonexistent during the Olympics. The courts were closed. The people of L. A. and SoCal cooperated without any backlash that I heard about, and I live here.

[digitalhecht]

THANK YOU! I was just praying someone would revive the Cold War. Maybe now we can forget about those damned jihadists for a while. Dolt.

[sanenazok]

It's fun to pretend China is everyone's best friend, isn't it? China has become a major competitor to the West (as are all capitalist dictatorships). Pointing out ways in which it's not doing so well, like environmental failure, is not restarting the cold war - it's looking at the facts.

[digitalhecht]

THANK YOU! I was just praying someone would revive the Cold War. Maybe now we can forget about those damned jihadists for a while. Dolt.

[mikeburek]

Why can't people just clean the air? Use electricity or even solar/wind power and put tons of industrial size air cleaners on the tops of buildings. We do that with water, so why not with air?

[k2dave]

If it could be done, using the windmills and solar power to replace dirty power (coal, oil) would do far more to clean the air then to use that power to run giant outdoor HEPA filters. Dirty air will clean itself, what we need to do is try to reduce the pollution we put into it. That would be far more energy efficient then trying to clean it once it's all over the world already.

[sanenazok]

Yes a giant broom, maybe with spinning parts? It's a little easier to pollute the air than it is to clean it.

[Seaspray0]

Perhaps China should addopt an enviromental protection agency like most other countries have.

[whereIstander]

As a distance runner, I'm particularly interested to see how the air will affect events like the marathon. The U.S. has a couple of young stars (Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenheim) who have a great shot at making some noise. Already, the favorite to win (Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie) dropped out, citing the poor air quality will damage his lung because he has asthma. It would be a shame if something other than talent and hard work affected the outcome of the games.

[entheogens]

>

Uh, hello, the Beijing subway has been up and running for a number of years now.

I found it interesting that the Ethiopian runner chose not to compete due to the pollution. Can't say that I blame him. Any outdoor athlete would be wise to draw up a will and get their things in order prior to participation.

[sanenazok]

Communist lies, big surprise.

The BBC ran its own tests, Beijing is not in compliance with WHO air quality standards:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds/

So much for the "blue sky" days by the commies, should have been "blue sky" air quality tests.

[DavidCross]

I lived in China for a few years. They couldn't care less for the environment. EVERY stream I passed on my bike was full of trash and oil pockets. The only time it might have seems to appear a little clean was after a big rain. Beijing was the most polluted out of all the cities i lived. I was sick most of the time i lived in beijing and when i moved back to the usa, i have not been sick a day since. I would actually choke on the air just walking down the block. truly amazingly dirty air and it smelled like chemicals.

some might want to say it is because they don't believe in god. give me a break. if they did believe in god, they would read that EVERYTHING is of God. no matter if you are good or bad, according to the bible, "yet all is of god" and "god operates all in all". "EVERYTHING is OF HIM". so you see, no matter what, if a child is killed, it is of god. if there is pollution in the air, it is of god. of course god is only a myth but if one wants to believe in god they must accept that all things are of him..according to his word. He even stated in his word that he created evil, the wicked for the evil day and the waster to destroy. so give me a break with the god stuff.

[k2dave]

Slight misrepresentation of the Word of God IMHO, yes everything is of God, but He allows us to live with the consequences of our free will decisions. He allows us to spew chemicals into the air that kill people, He allows us to oppress others and be oppressed. If this is a example of God vs. China I don't know, but it looks like a possibility so far.

[ksgarvin]

David, I agree with you about the religion issue. Historically, communist countries have had the worst environmental records in the world. It hasn't changed. It isn't religion; it's politics.

[DavidCross]

If one looks at the picture posted of beijing. it was like that every day i lived there. never blue. always gray/grey. imagine having to live in that stuff day after day. open your windows and your entire apartment would be covered in a fine film of dirt. even without the windows open, you had to clean the floor every day and dust almost as often. seriously, most people don't even realize how terrible the pollution is in beijing. it is almost impossible to imagine.

i am not sure how in the world they got the olympics but i would guess some people were bribed. it will be amazing if they can actually clean the air, i don't see how it is possible.

not only is the pollution a problem, taxi drivers are corrupt and will take their passengers for a ride and the meters are often hacked. I have walk out and ran from paying them because they are crooks. being from another country, no matter if you are not at fault, you will be blamed and required to pay.

my wife had a crash on her bike caused by a man that ran into her, knocked her on the ground and caused injury to her. the guy had nothing wrong with him. the police made me pay 300 dollars to the other person. witnesses all around. they see a white guy and they think money.

i can't wait to hear the crazy stories coming back from that place. i love china but they are truly backwards when compared to other countries.

[Letgoofmyeggo]

The Olympics should be boycotted not because of any air, water or other environmental reason. China is a a giant boil on the arse of humanity. Until they clean up their act I thick they should be ostracized.

[JadedGamer]

Well, in general a dictatorship holding the Olympics has mostly led to the dictatorship's fall (Mexico, South Korea - too many years for Germany and Soviet to count, ie. 1936-1945 and 1980-1990 respectively).

So China might come to regret ever applying for the games... :)

[kellytrap]

Er, the subway is running and has been for a while. Do most of your research from behind a desk?

[JCPayne]

China is already in the process of closing down much of the coal factories in Beijing.... Cnet, you should watch CCTV and actually learn about this before you write about it.

http://www.cctv.com/

[kieranmullen]

A slow loading propoganda website in a language many can't understand? WIN!

KieranMullen
http://www.360oregon.com

[gwbstr]

OK Subway detractors, sorry for the non-clarity. I'm talking about the delayed lines 10 and 8, which are at least a week (or a month, if you take earlier estimates) overdue. Then finishing both lines and adding line 4 and a couple others will take another three years, estimated. It's going to be fantastic, and it's going to change the urban landscape of Beijing. Speculative construction is already underway (and being paused late this month).

As to whether I do my research from behind a desk -- I don't have a desk. I sit in cafe's, and often take the subway to get there. --Graham/Sinobyte

[Munatones]

Running a marathon in Beijing will be tough, as will other endurance events (e.g., cycling), but can you imagine the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim athletes who will have to swim about 2 hours in the humidity, smog and the very warm waters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park? These athletes have to take gel packs in their swim suits because there is only 1 "feeding station" along the course where their coaches can give them water or Gatorade to drink. In addition, the swimmers wear very tight compression suits made out of neoprene which will only serve to elevate their body temperatures to dangerous levels. Information on these athletes is at www.10Kswimmer.com.