Space readings show 'worrying pollution levels in China'

Researchers from Yale and Columbia Universities, along with Battelle Memorial Institute, have used satellite readings to produce data on pollution levels in China.

The satellite provided the first estimates of ground-level annual average concentrations of the pollutant PM 2.5 for all of China over the last decade. This news will be welcomed among environmental groups and environmental organisations, which have been pushing China to record levels of PM2.5 in cities, rather than the less harmful PM10.

Fine particulates have the ability to penetrate human lung and blood tissue and can lead to asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The scientific instruments in space have been designed to address Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), which is a measure of the degree to which aerosol particles prevent the transmission of light either through absorption or scattering.

The measurements have found that all but four provinces (excluding Taiwan) have average annual exposures to PM2.5 above levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The PM2.5 concentrations are the highest in Shandong and Henan provinces, with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province experiencing a slight decreases in annual average PM2.5 levels over the last three years.

Posted by Lauren Steadman