“這是最后一個了，庫房也沒有了。”7-11便利店北京太陽宮店的店員，13日指著記者手中的PM2.5防塵口罩說。
Beijing (CNS)-- More than 30 cities in China reported dangerous levels of air pollution on Sunday evening, according to data released by the China National Environmental Monitoring Center.
Affected by hazy weather, the air quality indexes (AQI) in 33 cities reached at least 300, a "severe" level of pollution, according to the center.
Hospitals in those cities, which included Beijing, Wuhan and Shijiazhuang, have been overwhelmed with patients suffering from respiratory ailments caused by the bad air quality.
The density of PM2.5 particulates exceeded 700 micrograms per cubic meter in many parts of Beijing, the center said.
The World Health Organization considers 25 micrograms per cubic meter to be a safe daily level. "Wearing medical masks is quite necessary for people walking outside," said Zhang Lan, an official at the organization.
Sales of special masks that block inhalation of PM2.5 have shot up since the extreme pollution began.
PM2.5 is tiny particulate matter that can penetrate deeply into lungs, causing severe health problems.
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