Pollution is responsible for 3. 5 to five lakh premature deaths in China every year, according to a new study.
"The pollution is causing about 3,5 to five lakh premature deaths every year," a paper published in the medical journal "Lancet" said.
High levels of PM2.5 particles are the fourth biggest risk factor to public health, CCTV quoted the paper as saying.
PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
China in recent years has become the biggest polluter over taking the United States as it emerged as the world's manufacturing hub using heavily polluting energy sources like coal.
The incidence of lung cancer in Beijing nearly doubled between 2002 and 2011, the new report said, adding that the number of deaths from lung cancer has shot up nearly five-fold nationwide over the past 30 years.
Despite repeated pledges by the government to fight pollution, Beijing saw hardly any improvement in its air quality in 2013, the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau (BEPB) said.
Blanketed by heavily polluted smog most of the year, Beijing launched new standards for monitoring air quality in 2013. The results however have not been encouraging, the report said.
Data collected from 35 monitoring stations across the city shows that air quality was good for less than half of the year.
More than 15 per cent of the year has seen severe air pollution averaging one day a week.
The report said that that the PM2.5, airborne particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, accounted for 77.8 per cent during the most of the smoggy days.
The average density of PM 2.5 particles in Beijing is more than double national standards.
Beijing with a population of over 20 million has more than five million vehicles which were blamed for the pollution woes.
The government has already regulated the sale of new vehicles since 2012. New vehicles can be bought only after obtaining a number plate in public auctions.
