Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution. The word "smog" originated in the early 20th century as a portmanteau of the words smoke and fog. With the reoccurrence of smoggy air in China, the public seems to have gained more awareness of its hazards.
How is smog formed?
Industrial pollution, car emissions, coal burning, soil dust, and other human activities are all contributors of smog.
Hazardous smog
Smog can harm health in many ways, causing lung cancer as well as cardiac and vascular diseases.
How it affects people's life
Smog lingering in most Chinese cities has changed people's lifestyles. Take Beijing for example - during days when a red alert for air pollution is issued, schools are closed and residents are called to reduce outdoor activities.
What the government does to control it?
Local governments introduced various measures to control air pollution, but more efforts are required in the field of education to raise people's awareness about the harm of pollution.
Shanghai has rolled out measures to impose pollution fees on emitters in order to battle smog.
Smog-choked Beijing has established a hotline to provide information or receive complaints after it issued the highest-level air pollution alert for the first time.
