Beijing API at 173
Earlier today I twittered that the officially reported air pollution index for China had not been updated since April 9 on the SEPA web site, as lots of Beijingers today were lamenting the thick blanket of polluted air.
I doubt someone at the agency was listening, but this evening I found the new numbers were up:
Anything above 150 and you have to watch how long you stay outside, and certainly refrain from strenuous activity. The authorities still classify anything under 200 “lightly polluted,” but that’s wishful thinking.
Table Two: API and air quality grading
| API | Air quality Description | Grade | Effects to health |
Measures suggested |
| 0-50 | Excellent | 1 | Daily activities not be affected | |
| 51-100 | Good | 2 | ||
| 101-150 | Slightly polluted | 3A | The symptom of the susceptible is aggravated slightly, while the healthy people will appear stimulate symptom. | The cardiac and respiratory system patients should reduce strength draining and outdoor activities. |
| 151-200 | Light polluted | 3B | ||
| 201-250 | Moderate polluted | 4A | The symptoms of the cardiac and lung disease patients aggravate remarkably, and the exercise endurance drop lower. The healthy crowds popularly appear some symptoms. | The aged, cardiac and lung disease patients should stay indoors and reduce physical activities. |
| 251-300 | Moderate-heavy polluted | 4B | ||
| >300 | Heavy polluted | 5 | The exercise endurance of the healthy people drops down, some appears strong symptoms remarkably. Some diseases appear earlier. | The aged and patients should stay indoors and avoid strength draining; the ordinary should avoid outdoor activities. |
April 17th, 2008 10:24
I’ve been trying to find out what an API of 150 (or whatever) means without much luck. Are these numbers comparable or convertible in some way to the AQI used by the US government? From the text descriptions given above, it seems as though the numbers are comparable in meaning, although the US terms used are far more dire (what China is calling “moderate polluted” we call “very unhealthy”).
April 19th, 2008 05:46
had to get out of my feed to comment on this.. =)
my guess on why the chinese can put up with this is cos they are so used to their persistent cloud of cigarette smoke such air pollution seems mild in comparison..
perhaps a smoking poll of the staff members at SEPA will help explain the “light pollution” tag..