The IHT reports:
A new study has cast doubts about whether air quality has improved in Beijing and has concluded that "irregularities" in the city government's system of measuring air pollution have allowed the city to meet environmental targets linked to the coming Olympic Games.
The study, written by an American environmental consultant, found flaws in the Beijing "Blue Sky" system of air quality monitoring stations and noted that the city changed its formula for measuring pollution in 2006. In particular, officials stopped including readings from two stations in polluted areas and began using readings in three other stations in less polluted locales.
Without this switch, Beijing would have fallen far short of its goals in 2006 and 2007 for the number of days that met national air quality standards, according to the study. The study also found that a disproportionate number of days were rated just below the statistical breakpoint that separates a polluted day from one that passes standards.
To read more:
Comments