Air pollution becomes major public concern

This year smog has smothered skylines in cities large and small. Cleaning up the air has become a government priority with plans to reduce industrial emissions and dramatically cut coal use, but it won't happen quickly. In the meantime medical experts are grappling with the potential public health effects.

But as CCTV's Natalie Poyhonen reports, there could be a simple solution for residents to protect themselves.

To wear a mask or not to wear a mask?

That's the question on smog days.

"For me a face mask is a must-have when going outdoors." Shenyang resident Hu Fang said.

"I often feel my nose is blocked and can't stop coughing during such smoggy weather." Shenyang resident Wang Guilan said.

"I've seen on TV they said only the medical graded mask can block the polluters properly, the regular ones can't do the job." Shenyang resident Lin Zonglei said.

And he's right according to a group of Chinese and international researchers.

Their study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows wearing heavy duty mask with a filter on polluted days can have significant benefits for people with cardiovascular disease.

"Very clearly decrease myocardial ischemia and also reduce blood pressure and also reduce heart rate variability." Professor Jiang Lixin with Fuwai hospital said.

Results show even healthy individuals should make the right face mask a part of their uniform to stay in good condition.

"The blood pressure has been reduced by 3 millimetres of mercury, now that's a small but substantial reduction."Asst. professor Li Xi with Fuwai hospital said.

It's not just heart health causing concern.

One of Beijing's leading lung specialists is also worried.

"In some particular areas the factor of PM2.5 and pollutant air has surpassed smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer." Dr. Zhi Xiuyi with Xuanwu hospital said.

Reporter: "Poor air quality has a number of contributors including emissions from industrial facilities, coal power plants and vehicles. Depending on nearby sources you could be breathing in a pollution cocktail containing particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and black carbon."

The smog spread has enveloped cities from Harbin to Wuhan to Shanghai and towns in between. But there's now clarity when it comes to monitoring pollution. At the start of 2012 the government began releasing hourly air quality results in 74 cities. Which could be the key to clearer skies.

"The transparency or the disclosure of this data of PM 2.5 has caused a snowballing effect, as you can see the government has come up with action plans that are unprecedented." Ma Jun, director of Inst. of Public & Environmental Affairs, said.

A major step to make sure breathing easy is less of a challenge in the future.