Testers debug the PM2.5 monitors in Hebei province. (File photo/gov.cn)
(ECNS) -- China has completed the development of its national air quality monitoring network, the largest such initiative for a developing country, one year ahead of schedule and conforming to new standards issued by the Ministry of Environment in 2012, according to an environment official.
The 2012 air quality standards had new indices added, including PM2.5, or airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) into the monitoring scope.
In 2014, China spent 436 million yuan ($70.36 million) on third-phase construction of air quality monitoring capacities composed of 552 monitoring spots in 177 cities, said Wu Xiaoqing, the vice minister of environmental protection, at a conference on Wednesday in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The first two phases were completed in 2012 and 2013.
Wu added that China would continue to step up improving the country's monitoring and alarm capabilities for heavy pollution as well as analysis on the sources of particulate matter in the air.
All provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and capital cities, as well as those that enjoy a provincial-level status in economic structure and management, should complete construction of their air quality forecast and alarm systems by the end of October, Wu stated.
By the end of November, 13 pilot cities, including the northern cities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Shanghai in the east, will finish the compilation of their emission lists, while the analysis on pollution sources for 26 key cities would be wrapped up by the end of the year, it was added.
Motor vehicles, industrial production, coal burning and dust are the major sources of particles in the air for the majority of Chinese cities, according to findings.
