Study reveals air quality in Beijing has improved

The air quality in Beijing and surrounding areas has improved, according to the findings of a recent study.

Scientists from Harvard University and Tsinghua University in Beijing have been measuring carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide levels in Miyun, a province 100 kilometres from Beijing.

In a report published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, they revealed that since 2004, the levels of toxic emissions indicated more efficient combustion in the area.

"The data indicates a trend toward cleaner, more efficient combustion in the Beijing region over several years leading up to the 2008 Olympics," said co-author of the report J William Munger, senior research fellow at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

He added that as far as they can tell, the improvements made in the lead up to the games have been maintained.

These findings contradict reports released by China National Environmental Monitoring Center earlier this week, with the organisation giving the city a poor air quality status, as a result of high levels of fog over the weekend.

Posted by Joseph Hutton