Shanghai breathes good air, PM2.5 index shows

Shanghai's fine particles density was better than expected this morning when the city began to release PM2.5 readings collected from 10 monitoring spots from today.

The average density of PM2.5 – particles measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter – was below 30 micrograms per cubic meter this morning in the range of "good" air quality, according to the website of Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center.

China's national standard is 75 micrograms per cubic meter.

The monitoring spot in the Liangcheng area of Hongkou District reported the highest PM2.5 density of 50, which indicates "moderate" air quality according to the Chinese standards.

Pudong New Area had the best air quality this morning with PM2.5 density at about 10.

Shanghai's hourly updated PM2.5 readings and a chart showing PM2.5 changes in 24 hours are available on the bureau's website (www.semc.gov.cn) and on its microblog. They are in Chinese, but the bureau said a bilingual version will be provided later.

Since March, Shanghai has released real-time PM2.5 figures at two monitoring spots in Putuo and Zhangjiang.

Shanghai has established 30 PM2.5 monitoring spots, including 10 national spots which are all in downtown districts. A spot in suburban Dianshanhu Lake is used as a benchmark for good air quality and is not included in local air quality evaluation.