Tangshan raises smog alert Dec 19-24

SHANGHAI, Dec 19 (SMM) – Far from achieving air quality targets, China’s top steelmaking city Tangshan in Hebei province, raised the current pollution alert to level I during December 19-24, SMM learned.

In November, particulate matter with concentration of 2.5 (PM 2.5) in Tangshan averaged 77.5μg/m³, 29.51% higher than this winter’s target of 59.84μg/m³.

Tangshan has already issued a leveI II, or orange, pollution alert effective from December 9 until the end of the year.

Steel mills and other industrial plants will make additional output cuts on top of those already imposed during the winter heating season.