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Smog hits China

Posted by 3Emily on October 22, 2013 at 9:41am in Mr Bruns 360 Message Board

As a thick cloud of smog smothered the northeastern city of Harbin, China. Meteorologists in the city issued a red alert for fog at 5 a.m. this morning. The visibility in some central areas of the city down to less than 20 meters (65 feet). 

Kindergartens, primary and junior middle schools were ordered to suspend classes for a second day, while Harbin Taiping International Airport remained closed -- with 250 flights canceled on Monday alone, according to Chinese state media. 

Pollution levels remained far above international standards, as the city's monitoring stations on Tuesday showed that concentrations of PM2.5 -- the tiny airborne particles considered most harmful to health -- were more than 30 times the World Health Organization's recommended standard.

Government officials blamed the smog on a lack of wind and farmers burning crop stalk after their autumn harvest, though the city's coal-burning heating system.

Local residents in the northeastern city of Harbin brave the thick smog on October 21.

These are some of the residents of Harbin, China

To read more about this current issue, go to the following website:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/world/asia/china-smog-lingers/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

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Replies

  • Mr. Bruns October 24, 2013 at 10:00am

    You reply well to students commentsand it is a good story but you did not pose a questions for students to reply to.

  • 4Megan October 24, 2013 at 8:34am

    Thats really weird that its that bad and it has been going on for two days! Thats kind of scary. How long do they think it will take to go away?

  • 4Marcus October 24, 2013 at 8:26am

    I hope it clears up, that would stink to not really be able to go outside much. Maybe China can learn from this and try and create less pollution.

  • 1Greg October 22, 2013 at 5:27pm

    I wonder how hard it must be to breath there.

    • 3Emily > 1Greg October 24, 2013 at 6:54am

      I would think that it would be hard breathing in the pollution, but they do have masks that should help some.

  • 1abby October 22, 2013 at 3:34pm

    Wow this is crazy. It is good they got people safe, and did the right things. 

    • 3Emily > 1abby October 24, 2013 at 6:53am

      Yeah. I just hope that if this happened, that everyone in my town would try to be as safe as possible, and try not to go outside if possible.

  • 6Scott October 22, 2013 at 12:26pm

    That is crazy that it was that thick. It's at least good that they were smart and canceled school and things like that to be safe.

    • 3Emily > 6Scott October 22, 2013 at 12:38pm

      I think that canceling school and flights was a good idea.

  • 6Molly October 22, 2013 at 10:55am

    That is a lot! Just in the picture you can barely see. 

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