Ministry of Environmental Protection: The public generally supports the inclusion of PM2.5 in air quality standards

Release Date:2011-12-07 Number of views:255

The public consultation on closely watched PM2.5 standards ends today. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), more than 1,500 comments have been received during the consultation period. They are in favor of including PM2.5 as a general assessment item in air quality standards, and some suggest that regions where conditions permit should implement them ahead of time.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) will take into account the country's social and economic development level, absorb and adopt opinions and suggestions from all sides, improve the draft standard, and strive for the official release of the standard as soon as possible, an official with the MEP said.

Key Recommendation 1

Some regions implemented the new bidding ahead of schedule

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Environmental Protection said yesterday that as of 24 o 'clock on December 5th, the Ministry of Environmental Protection had received more than 1,500 feedback on various kinds of opinions. The opinions and suggestions were sorted and classified, mainly focusing on several major aspects. First of all, it is generally agreed that PM2.5 should be included as a standard for general evaluation items. It is suggested that the implementation should be carried out step by step according to the actual situation of different regions. In some areas with heavy pollution and conditions, the implementation should be carried out before January 1, 2016.

Key Recommendation 2

Timely release of monitoring data

In addition, the feedback also suggested the adjustment of the standard's zoning and classification, some pollutant limits and other standards. It is suggested that monitoring should be strengthened after the implementation of the standards, and data should be released in time so that the public can know the air quality situation in a timely manner.

It is also suggested that after the standards are implemented, all parties concerned, including the government, enterprises, organizations and the public, should cooperate and work together to contribute to improving air quality according to their respective responsibilities and obligations.

■ News background

PM2.5 standards were formulated for the first time

On the 16th of last month, the Ministry of Environmental Protection published the "Ambient Air Quality Standard" (draft for the second time) and the "Technical Provisions for the Daily Ambient Air Quality Index (AQI)" (draft for the third time) to solicit public opinions from the whole society.

The biggest adjustment in the second draft is to include PM2.5 and ozone (8-hour concentration) in the regular air quality assessment, which is the first time China has set a PM2.5 standard.

In the draft, the annual and 24-hour average concentration limits for PM2.5 are set at 0.035 mg/m3 and 0.075 mg/m3 respectively. The new standards are scheduled to be fully implemented on January 1, 2016.

       ■ Explain

Where does PM2.5 come from

Experts say factories and coal burning have little impact at this stage, and PM2.5 mainly comes from vehicle exhaust

After several heavy fogs at the beginning of winter this year, air quality data monitored by the US embassy itself was widely circulated on Weibo, bringing PM2.5 back to the forefront of public concern. So where does PM2.5 come from?

Cooking can produce PM2.5

As early as 1992 and 1993, experts at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences explored the fine particulate matter in Beijing's air, trying to find the main sources of the city's particulate pollution. Experts have set up sampling sites in Yanshan Petrochemical Area in the southwest of Beijing, Beixin 'an in Shijingshan District near Shougang plant in the west, Dongdan Road and Dong46 in the east. Monitoring results show that the North Xin 'an pollution is the most serious. The main source of pollution in the urban areas of Dongdan and Dongsi is automobile exhaust, followed by coal burning for civilian use.

Experts from the environmental protection department told reporters that PM2.5 is produced by burning, from factories, coal burning, automobile exhaust, burning leaves and straw, to cooking, smoking and even using hair spray.

In addition, the soil on the site was brought to the road, after the repeated rolling of the vehicle, the original coarse particles, but also powder into fine particles.

Motor vehicles are the main source of PM2.5

Beijing began a comprehensive control of air pollution in 1998. In terms of industry, with the shutdown of Shougang and the removal of the chemical industry in the southeast suburbs, there has been basically no industrial manufacturing industry in the central city of Beijing. At the same time, after many years of coal to gas projects, coal-fired boilers within the Fifth Ring have been very rare.

Factories and coal, two sources of PM2.5, have largely disappeared from urban Beijing.

At the same time, the number of vehicles in Beijing has skyrocketed in recent years, even as factories and coal burning have dwindled. "Both gasoline and diesel vehicles produce PM2.5 in the process of using them. Diesel vehicles produce more PM2.5. At the same time, some of the gaseous pollutants in the vehicle exhaust will also be converted into fine particles." Experts say.

At present, there is no official figure for the contribution of various sources of pollution to PM2.5, and vehicles are the main source of PM2.5 emissions, given the large number of vehicles in Beijing. Experts say it is not hard to explain why the US embassy, which is located in a busy, heavily trafficked area, has a high PM2.5 reading.

How to control PM2.5

The primary control of motor vehicle pollution; Experts say the data should be published in real time

From the source analysis of PM2.5, in addition to the pollution sources that the government needs to control, cars and other public goods are also important sources of PM2.5. Experts point out that every one of us produces PM2.5 in our daily life, and some people produce more PM2.5, such as those who own more cars.

An official with the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau also said that after years of efforts to clean up industrial and coal-burning industries, pollution from secondary industries is no longer a major problem for Beijing's environment. Therefore, Beijing's air pollution control focus has gradually shifted from the secondary industry to the areas that produce more pollution. Motor vehicle exhaust, automobile repair, catering lampblack and other aspects, have become the focus of governance. Tackling motor vehicle pollution is Beijing's top priority.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public Environment and Public Affairs, said that although a large part of PM2.5 comes from the public's daily activities, it is not entirely up to the public, and certainly not the government, to solve the problem.

"The pollution of PM2.5 cannot be solved for a while. The top priority should be for the government to monitor PM2.5 and publish the results, not just the daily average for one city, but hourly and real-time monitoring data for each region. This allows the public to be informed about the air pollution in their area and to take steps to reduce the impact on their health. And when the numbers are high, the government can also advocate green travel." Mr. Ma said.

Thenext step, Ma said, is to identify the sources of PM2.5 pollution and finally implement emission reductions. Emission reduction should be taken from the easy to the difficult way, first to solve the construction site dust, road debris and other issues that the government should solve. Motor vehicles, because they involve everyone's life, emission reduction is the biggest difficulty, should be solved by the government and the public together.

PM2.5

Refers to the diameter of particles in the atmosphere less than or equal to 2.5 microns, also known as particulate matter can enter the lung. Due to the small particle size, rich in a large number of toxic and harmful substances, thus greater impact on human health and atmospheric environmental quality.

PM10

Particles with a diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns in the atmosphere, also known as respirable particles or drifting dust. Particulate matter larger than 10 microns can be picked up by nose hair or coughed out of the body.

The public consultation on closely watched PM2.5 standards ends today. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), more than 1,500 comments have been received during the consultation period. They are in favor of including PM2.5 as a general assessment item in air quality standards, and some suggest that regions where conditions permit should implement them ahead of time.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) will take into account the country's social and economic development level, absorb and adopt opinions and suggestions from all sides, improve the draft standard, and strive for the official release of the standard as soon as possible, an official with the MEP said.

Key Recommendation 1

Some regions implemented the new bidding ahead of schedule

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Environmental Protection said yesterday that as of 24 o 'clock on December 5th, the Ministry of Environmental Protection had received more than 1,500 feedback on various kinds of opinions. The opinions and suggestions were sorted and classified, mainly focusing on several major aspects. First of all, it is generally agreed that PM2.5 should be included as a standard for general evaluation items. It is suggested that the implementation should be carried out step by step according to the actual situation of different regions. In some areas with heavy pollution and conditions, the implementation should be carried out before January 1, 2016.

Key Recommendation 2

Timely release of monitoring data

In addition, the feedback also suggested the adjustment of the standard's zoning and classification, some pollutant limits and other standards. It is suggested that monitoring should be strengthened after the implementation of the standards, and data should be released in time so that the public can know the air quality situation in a timely manner.

It is also suggested that after the standards are implemented, all parties concerned, including the government, enterprises, organizations and the public, should cooperate and work together to contribute to improving air quality according to their respective responsibilities and obligations.

■ News background

PM2.5 standards were formulated for the first time

On the 16th of last month, the Ministry of Environmental Protection published the "Ambient Air Quality Standard" (draft for the second time) and the "Technical Provisions for the Daily Ambient Air Quality Index (AQI)" (draft for the third time) to solicit public opinions from the whole society.

The biggest adjustment in the second draft is to include PM2.5 and ozone (8-hour concentration) in the regular air quality assessment, which is the first time China has set a PM2.5 standard.

In the draft, the annual and 24-hour average concentration limits for PM2.5 are set at 0.035 mg/m3 and 0.075 mg/m3 respectively. The new standards are scheduled to be fully implemented on January 1, 2016.

       ■ Explain

Where does PM2.5 come from

Experts say factories and coal burning have little impact at this stage, and PM2.5 mainly comes from vehicle exhaust

After several heavy fogs at the beginning of winter this year, air quality data monitored by the US embassy itself was widely circulated on Weibo, bringing PM2.5 back to the forefront of public concern. So where does PM2.5 come from?

Cooking can produce PM2.5

As early as 1992 and 1993, experts at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences explored the fine particulate matter in Beijing's air, trying to find the main sources of the city's particulate pollution. Experts have set up sampling sites in Yanshan Petrochemical Area in the southwest of Beijing, Beixin 'an in Shijingshan District near Shougang plant in the west, Dongdan Road and Dong46 in the east. Monitoring results show that the North Xin 'an pollution is the most serious. The main source of pollution in the urban areas of Dongdan and Dongsi is automobile exhaust, followed by coal burning for civilian use.

Experts from the environmental protection department told reporters that PM2.5 is produced by burning, from factories, coal burning, automobile exhaust, burning leaves and straw, to cooking, smoking and even using hair spray.

In addition, the soil on the site was brought to the road, after the repeated rolling of the vehicle, the original coarse particles, but also powder into fine particles.

Motor vehicles are the main source of PM2.5

Beijing began a comprehensive control of air pollution in 1998. In terms of industry, with the shutdown of Shougang and the removal of the chemical industry in the southeast suburbs, there has been basically no industrial manufacturing industry in the central city of Beijing. At the same time, after many years of coal to gas projects, coal-fired boilers within the Fifth Ring have been very rare.

Factories and coal, two sources of PM2.5, have largely disappeared from urban Beijing.

At the same time, the number of vehicles in Beijing has skyrocketed in recent years, even as factories and coal burning have dwindled. "Both gasoline and diesel vehicles produce PM2.5 in the process of using them. Diesel vehicles produce more PM2.5. At the same time, some of the gaseous pollutants in the vehicle exhaust will also be converted into fine particles." Experts say.

At present, there is no official figure for the contribution of various sources of pollution to PM2.5, and vehicles are the main source of PM2.5 emissions, given the large number of vehicles in Beijing. Experts say it is not hard to explain why the US embassy, which is located in a busy, heavily trafficked area, has a high PM2.5 reading.

How to control PM2.5

The primary control of motor vehicle pollution; Experts say the data should be published in real time

From the source analysis of PM2.5, in addition to the pollution sources that the government needs to control, cars and other public goods are also important sources of PM2.5. Experts point out that every one of us produces PM2.5 in our daily life, and some people produce more PM2.5, such as those who own more cars.

An official with the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau also said that after years of efforts to clean up industrial and coal-burning industries, pollution from secondary industries is no longer a major problem for Beijing's environment. Therefore, Beijing's air pollution control focus has gradually shifted from the secondary industry to the areas that produce more pollution. Motor vehicle exhaust, automobile repair, catering lampblack and other aspects, have become the focus of governance. Tackling motor vehicle pollution is Beijing's top priority.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public Environment and Public Affairs, said that although a large part of PM2.5 comes from the public's daily activities, it is not entirely up to the public, and certainly not the government, to solve the problem.

"The pollution of PM2.5 cannot be solved for a while. The top priority should be for the government to monitor PM2.5 and publish the results, not just the daily average for one city, but hourly and real-time monitoring data for each region. This allows the public to be informed about the air pollution in their area and to take steps to reduce the impact on their health. And when the numbers are high, the government can also advocate green travel." Mr. Ma said.

Thenext step, Ma said, is to identify the sources of PM2.5 pollution and finally implement emission reductions. Emission reduction should be taken from the easy to the difficult way, first to solve the construction site dust, road debris and other issues that the government should solve. Motor vehicles, because they involve everyone's life, emission reduction is the biggest difficulty, should be solved by the government and the public together.

PM2.5

Refers to the diameter of particles in the atmosphere less than or equal to 2.5 microns, also known as particulate matter can enter the lung. Due to the small particle size, rich in a large number of toxic and harmful substances, thus greater impact on human health and atmospheric environmental quality.

PM10

Particles with a diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns in the atmosphere, also known as respirable particles or drifting dust. Particulate matter larger than 10 microns can be picked up by nose hair or coughed out of the body.

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