Lanzhou, capital of west China's Gansu Province, claims the climate is one of the major factors behind the swath of high pollution days the city has gasped through since the start of the month.

 

At a press conference on Wednesday, Vice mayor Wu Jide said the city has suffered from frequent dust and sand storms since spring. Moreover, the air has been static since the start of winter, slowing the dispersal of pollutants.

 

The official said most of the pollution is produced by coal burning, vehicle exhaust and dust re-entrainment. Enterprises have also contributed to the worsening situation by discharging industrial waste water in a city where there is limited monitoring.

 

Wang Deming is the director of the local environment protection bureau. He said the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air has declined by 19 percent, but climate change and vehicle exhaust fumes have caused levels of suspended particles and nitrogen dioxide to increase.

 

The city launched a sustained campaign to curb pollution after Lanzhou was named one of the world's six most polluted cities. The best ever air quality in recent years was recorded last year. 

 

(CRI December 28, 2006)