factory fire went unnoticed amid severe china smog - air purifier filter

State media say a factory fire in eastern China has been ignored for three hours because of the smog that hangs over large parts of China this week.
According to Xinhua, after firefighters in Zhejiang province finally received a fire alarm early Monday, it took them 10 hours to put out the fire, which burned a lot of furniture.
"Due to the heavy fog in the air at that time, the initial smoke and flame from the fire took nearly three hours before it was accidentally discovered by nearby residents," Xinhua said . ".
This week, the unusually severe air pollution in most parts of China reached a level that endangered human health and sparked public criticism of China's astonishing development.
At the height of the smog in the capital, authorities released readings of pm2. 5. 5 -
Particles small enough to penetrate the lungs
Reaching 993 micrograms per cubic meter is almost 40 times the World Health Organization's safety limit.
Reduced visibility leads to 20-
In another report, Xinhua said cars collided elsewhere in Zhejiang, killing two people and injuring eight others, forcing Beijing flights to be canceled. -
China has cleaned up the air before, but experts say if it wants to avoid choking China's smog this week, it must overhaul the economy driven by heavily polluted coal and car use.
In recent days, the poor air quality in large parts of northern China has triggered an emergency response, with students staying indoors, factories closing and government cars stopping.
Experts urged the authorities to take more firm action to deal with the consequences of China's rapid industrial development.
And the consumption habits of the middle class brought about by economic prosperity.
After the new Communist Party leader Xi Jinping said the government would try to meet the demands of "more comfortable living conditions and a more beautiful environment", people called for cleaner air.
China began releasing pollution data last year, and observers say it has triggered a strong backlash against smog, with both a new group of people who know each other and a general public in party countries --run media.
With toxic smog hanging over Beijing this week and sales of masks and air purifiers starting from the roof, Xinhua said the Communist Party's commitment to building a Beautiful China was "at stake ".
"A country with a brown sky and dangerous air is clearly not beautiful," it said in its comments . ".
At 2008 Olympic Games, when the world pays attention to Beijing, the Chinese capital has implemented strict measures for two months or more to reduce toxic emissions.
Car users can only drive every other day, construction works are stopped and factories are closed.
These steps are "unsustainable extreme resolutions," said Professor John Cai, director of the Center for Healthcare Management and Policy at Shanghai Central Europe International Business School.
"What needs to happen is that it takes a long time for the government
"By means of a central heating system, it is a long-term action to keep individual households in rural areas from burning coal and reduce the use of urban cars," he told AFP . ".
China will face "short
"The long-term economic losses caused by massive changes," Mr. Cai said, but added that the government should focus on the long term.
The growth of car usage is not only an important driving force for China's economic growth, but also a clear sign of China's wealth growth.
But Mr. Cai said that Beijing already has 5 million cars, an increase of 20,000 per month, which is crucial, and he suggested that owners must pay a high license fee for each car to reduce emissions.
Solving the problem of coal use is even more problematic, because although it may encourage families to use central heating systems, the vast majority of China's electricity is generated by fuel, which provides for the rapid development of China.
The World Coal Association says 79% of China's electricity is generated by coal, most of which are produced by low electricity, experts say.
Many western markets now favor "dirty" coal instead of "clean" coal.
"Beijing has taken urgent measures to deal with the current pollution, but in the long run we need a region --
Zhou Rong, a climate and energy activist at Greenpeace, said: "broad policies to cut coal use to improve air quality . ".
Former senior London Mayor's Office official and current visiting professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University, John Ross, contrasts with the "smog" of the British capital in 1952.
After legislation forced the power plant out of town and banned a lot of smoke, the pollution was finally clearedemitting fuels.
Lessons from London (is)
Industrial pollution can be eliminated, but it requires strict laws, a lot of investment and more than 10 years.
Beijing says it will get rid of 1200
By 2015, polluting enterprises had improved air quality and bicycle rental kiosks had been set up to ease traffic congestion.
But Professor Cai said strict controls require the firm political will of China's new leaders.
Given Xi's claim to support clean environment,
He expects "substantial and fundamental changes" to occur in two years ".
But many ordinary Chinese are not optimistic.
"Air pollution is an emergency as severe as an earthquake, flood or chemical leak," a Weibo poster said . ".
The government needs to mobilize the whole society to solve this problem.
Not just the environmental department.