Beijing to increase pollution monitoring

Beijing plans to mobilize two additional vans to monitor fine particle pollution by the end of this year, according to city's Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment.

An existing van currently monitors 30 roads in six of the city's central districts. The van samples the air at 1.2 to 1.5 meters above the ground. It also checks for dust on the roads and informs the sanitation department if cleaning is needed.

The city plans to have ten inspection vans by 2015, covering all major roads in the city.

Each van costs one to two million yuan ($158,600 - $317,200).