Smog returns to haunt several Chinese cities including Beijing

Pollution returned to haunt Chinese capital Beijing and surrounding provinces on Christmas Day today, three days after a nearly week-long red alert for the worst smog of the year was lifted.
Heavy smog continued to shroud some parts of Beijing and neighbouring Hebei province, meteorological authorities said, forecasting the pollution to be dispersed tomorrow with the arrival of cold front.
The density of PM 2.5, particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, ranged between 130 to 241 micrograms per cubic meter today morning in Beijing, the National Meteorological Centre said.
Some parts in Hebei and Shanxi provinces also saw medium smog.

Despite government efforts to fight pollution, frequent outbreaks of smog have become increasingly common in winter in northern China where cold weather conditions and the burning of coal for heating combine to exacerbate the situation, state -run Xinhua news agency reported.
Emergency measures such as car restrictions based on even- odd license plate numbers, closure of kindergartens and schools have been implemented in Beijing and 22 other cities from December 17 to 21 following this year's first red alert.
In a five-year plan on environmental improvements released on December 5, Chin's central cabinet ordered strict controls on the consumption of coal, a major source of pollution in China.

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, the Pearl River and Yangtze River delta regions, and the 10 cities with the worst air quality must all see a reduction in coal consumption, according to the plan.