BEIJING
Pollution in the Chinese capital is expected to drop to a level that has been internationally recognized as safe in 16 years, according to environmental authorities.
Pan Tao, the head of the Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, told the China Daily on Wednesday that smaller PM2.5 particles - particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrograms or less per cubic meter - are likely to be regularly reduced to no more than 35 micrograms per cubic meter by 2030.
The World Health Organization has recognized 35 micrograms per cubic meter as a safe level.
"Improving air quality in the city is not going to be an easy task," Pan said during Tuesday's 2014 Beijing International Academic Symposium on Urban Environment. "It takes time and effort to turn the ship around."
The intensity of PM2.5 in 2013 was 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.
Pan said that Beijing's rapid expansion, population explosion and improper urban planning had hindered environmental improvements.
Several companies have been fined for excessive smoke, faulty emission-monitoring facilities and leaving coal uncovered, the Bureau said.
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