Heavy air pollution in 80 percent of Chinese cities

BEIJING: Pollution in nearly 80 percent of Chinese cities surveyed by Greenpeace “greatly exceeded” national standards over the first nine months of this year, the advocacy group said on Thursday.

The average level of PM2.5 particulates -- small enough to deeply penetrate the lungs -- in the 367 cities tested was also more than four times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Greenpeace said.