Beijing's average PM2.5 density dropped to 50 micrograms per cubic meter in the first three quarters, down 16.7 percent compared with the same period last year, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said at a press conference on Oct. 11.

According to the bureau, average PM2.5 density for January, August and September, was the best on record.

Meanwhile, average density of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10 in the first nine months stood at 6 micrograms, 38 micrograms and 77 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively, down by 33.3 percent, 15.6 percent and 14.4 percent.

In the first three quarters, there were 160 days with good air quality, up by nine days year-on-year; there were only eight heavily polluted days, down by 10 days year-on-year.

Beijing has been taking solid steps to combat air pollution including tightening supervision on emissions of pollutants, zeroing in on heavy diesel vehicles, dust, and volatile organic chemicals through refining management,

This year, the municipal environment watchdog and traffic management department jointly checked up 1.619 million heavy diesel vehicles and snapped penalties on 251,000 vehicles. 

The municipal departments of environmental protection, public security, urban management law enforcement carried out inspections on fixed pollution sources, issuing fines worth over 145 million yuan (US$12 million) in more than 2,859 cases in the first 9 months.

The municipal government will stress localized responsibilities for environmental protection and implement a quantity-based assessment for officials. 

In addition, 163 townships and subdistricts will be included in the demonstration and key supervision areas for air pollution prevention and control in the city, and 19 townships (street-level communities) with outstanding problems will be grilled.

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