Expats reconsider living in Beijing over growing pollution(2)

"But I certainly saw many people coming in with asthma exacerbations or serious coughing. I've had discussions with a few patients, both foreign and local, who are thinking of leaving Beijing due to the pollution," he said.

Sean Dugdale, an American exchange student with Peking University, said he was hoping to work in Beijing after college but had given up that idea because of the pollution.

When the smog hit the city, Dugdale's family grew worried and sent him an e-mail with pictures showing the smog-covered Tiananmen Square. He has now decided to return to the US after his one-year exchange program ends.

Over the past four or five months, Price noticed cases where some foreigners, mostly at American companies, are asking for "danger money" when negotiating a contract with employers if they are to continue working in Beijing.

Danger money, he explained, is an extra bonus one asks for when confronted with safety risks in the country of employment. Traditionally, this is associated with nations like Angola and Nigeria, where security risks are high, and roughly amounts to 10 percent of one's annual salary package.

"I think many young people are more willing to trade the pollution off against the opportunities that are available in Beijing, particularly given the economy in many western countries right now," said Ashley Howlett, a partner at global law firm Jones Day's Beijing office.

He said there are still a lot of foreigners seeking job opportunities in Beijing, although it is becoming more difficult for multinational companies to sell Beijing as a perfect location when hiring.  Howlett's wife and children moved back to New Zealand, their home country, four years ago as the air quality in Beijing was having a bad effect on his 11-year-old asthmatic son.

Matt Hope, a British artist had sought solution to air pollution with his "Breathing Bike," a pedal-powered air filtration system that provides clean air to the rider as it moves.

"Most of my friends came to stay for a while then leave, and some do leave China considering their families' health. For me, I still feel a lot of things are interesting in China for my art practicing," he told the Global Times.

"I think Beijing struggled to attract people before the pollution became a news item.

With its harsh climate and drab concrete skyline it doesn't make a good backdrop for postcards, however what's left of old Beijing still has a fan base," Hope said.

Positive steps

The Beijing government has vowed to make greater efforts to tackle air pollution, including a "clean air pact" that aims to reduce major pollutants concentration by an average of 2 percent by the end of this year.

Experts have also called for more international cooperation on pollution control, both at the official level and via communications among environmental organizations.

Jack Marzulli, a research fellow with New York City-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) China, told the Global Times that he'll be returning to the US at the end of his one-year post with the organization's Sustainable Cities Team.

"The pollution is definitely one of the reasons that I'm not seriously considering staying in Beijing longer term," said Marzulli. "Ironically, it's also one of the reasons I moved here in the first place."

Having visited Beijing in the past, Marzulli said he wanted to be part of the effort in fighting Beijing's pollution and specifically applied for a post at the NRDC's Beijing office.

"The air pollution constantly reminds me how important our work is," he said.

There is still a lot of work to be done to improve the air quality in Beijing and the rest of China, but environmental organizations are making a lot of progress, he said, while public awareness of air pollution and other environmental issues is increasing significantly.

China has been sparing no efforts in improving air quality and curbing pollution and Japan is glad to offer its assistance to the government, companies and NGOs, said Okazaki Yuta, First Secretary of the Economic Section (Environment) at the Embassy of Japan in China.

"I'd like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to residents who suffered from heavy smog earlier this year. As the father of two children, I'm heartbroken when seeing Chinese kids getting sick because of the air pollution," said Okazaki.

He lives in Beijing with his wife and two sons, and the family has come to depend on its air purifier.

 "Japan also experienced serious air pollution before, and I don't want to see more harm caused by pollution anywhere in this world," he said.

"I'd like to continue working in Beijing, hoping that our experiences, lessons and technologies can help China find a solution."