Why Winter is the Most Polluted Time of Year in China

By Jonty Dixon

The Explainer is where we explain an aspect of Chinese life. Simple. So now you know.

Pollution season is here — that time of the year when China’s major cities become shrouded in a blanket of thick smog. 

If you’ve ever lived in China or followed news reports from around the country during the winter, you've likely seen all those 'Airpocalypse' photos.

In addition to the dense, grey skies, pollution also brings real health problems. PM 2.5 particles, which can be found in the air on smoggy days, are small enough to penetrate deep into the blood stream through the lungs and have been known to cause serious health issues. It is estimated that pollution is responsible for one in five deaths and 250,000 premature deaths in China.

Pollution in China is often regarded as the worst in the world, and as the temperature drops, the smog levels rise. This issue is accepted by the Chinese government as a major issue, and in recent years there has been a movement to cut pollution and smog levels down.

Why Winter?

China's smog is a big problem during the winter. The coldness of the winter months means that more coal and other fossil fuels are burnt during this time of the year. Central heating, which is powered by coal, is used in individual homes as well as commercial businesses during these months. The demands for energy soar in the colder months, while the naturally overcast weather traps the pollution beneath the cloud line, thus creating smog.

Consequently, smog is worse in the northern cities than in the south. Scientists from the University of California Berkeley recently mapped the extent of air pollution in China and found that it was particularly intense in the heavily populated east, in a “corridor that extends from near Shanghai to north of Beijing.”

Beijing, held up as one of the worst cities for smog, was forced to issue two red health alerts last winter for the first time in its history. During times of particularly bad pollution, the government will suspend production in factories and restrict to use of government cars — and occasionally even close schools — in an attempt to reduce the levels.

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself from the Smog?

Facemasks and air purifiers are and absolute must during this time of year. The masks will usually form part of your daily outfit when the smog levels get really bad. From cheap disposable masks to high end fashionable masks, you have to make sure you’re getting one which filters out the PM2.5 particles. Those are the particles which can enter your bloodstream and cause health problems after prolonged exposure.

Air purifiers for your home and office are also important, as the small particles can find their way indoors. For small kids as well as adults, air purifiers can be a little thing which can make a big difference on days with particularly bad air.

What is Being Done to Improve the Air?

The Chinese government has made reducing smog levels a priority. In addition to short term solutions – temporary closure of factories, for instance – the government has also invested in clean energy. There has also been a movement towards hybrid and electric vehicles.

In 2015, smog levels in Beijing were down 6 percent from the year before and 10 percent from 2013. With further restriction set to be introduced, despite the early switching on of central heating, authorities in Beijing expect that the pollutions levels will continue to fall. However, we may have to wait to for another year for the smog levels to fall, as this year is set to be especially cold (and, consequently, polluted).

But with new environmentally-friendly regulations constantly being introduced, many are hopeful that China's air quality will improve.

[Images via Greenpeace, The Guardian, China News, Economist, Netease]

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