Environment

British smog-monitoring unit in Beijing ordered to close down

by Amy Judd | August 9, 2008 at 03:56 pm

238 views | 7 Recommendations | 2 comments

British scientists working in Beijing to monitor air quality were ordered to close down their website, as it's being reported that their reading clashed with official statistics that stated the pollution levels were much lower.

The scientists were Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, who were working with the European Space Agency (ESA), and they used a colour-coded map to show pollution levels across the city. It was updated daily.

At first it was freely accessible, but after earlier complaints by the Chinese authorities, it was restricted to users by password only.

But on Friday, the day of the opening ceremony, the quarter of Beijing in which the Olympic Green is situated was coloured green on the map, marking an air pollution index (API) of 101-150. The government's safe limit is 100, and the city authorities' figures put the API at 95.

The reason for the "green" colour was high levels of particulates, known as PM10. Again, while the online map gave a fail for the Olympic Green, the figures for the nearest monitoring station in Beijing showed a pass.

Later on Friday afternoon, subscribers to the website received an email saying the site would no longer be visible by password.

"I am very sorry to have to let you know that at the request of our Chinese partners in this project we are unable to provide public access to the Beijing Air Quality forecasts during the Olympic Games period," the email said.

"We deeply regret any disappointment or difficulties this may cause. We will of course let you know if this situation changes."