China's levels of some air pollutants have soared as factories reopen following the country's strict lockdown.
"There are early warning signs that China's recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is reversing air quality gains," said the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which studied the country's pollution levels.
Average levels of some air pollutants in China dropped in February, as lockdown measures closed factories, curbed electricity demand and slashed transport.
But average levels of some pollutants have since rebounded, and were higher in the 30 days ending May 8 than the same period in 2019, the centre said in its analysis of data from 1500 air quality monitoring stations in China.
This was true of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter, suggesting a rebound in industrial activity drove the trend, the centre said.
[From The Age/Reuters]
In other words, growth is back on track in China. Pity about the atmosphere.
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