Serious pollution ails 20% of Chinese cities, auto exhaust main source

About one-fifth of cities in China have serious air pollution, air quality of one-third of 113 key cities does not reach the national secondary standard and vehicle emissions have become the main source of air pollution, said Liu Zhiquan, Deputy Director General of Department of Science, Technology and Standards, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China.

Liu made a speech titled "Strengthening Environmental Laws and Regulations on Vehicles, Promoting the Sustainable Development of the Vehicle Industry" at the International Forum on Chinese Automotive Industry Development

Liu said that the rapid development of automobile industry has promoted the development of all aspects of social economic progress and improved the quality of life, but it has come at the cost of severe air pollution.

The coal ash phenomenon has also appeared in some regions in China and visibility has decreased. Research shows that the phenomenon is closely linked with motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.

Some cities have gradually increased the concentration of ozone, and in some cities the possibility of occurrence of photochemical pollution is increasing. Higher ozone concentration is connected with motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.

Liu added that during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, China will further improve vehicle emission standards, strengthening vehicle emission control. The government will focus on decreasing the level of motor vehicle emissions, strictly implementing the national vehicle emission standards, improving the environmental protection system with regard to the new production of motor vehicles and continue to promote used car trade-in policies.

By People's Daily Online, Yan Meng