Shanghai air quality 'heavily polluted' today
A smog comparison between yesterday (left) and today. Note that Shanghai's famous skyline has disappeared from view.
Shanghai’s air quality is severely polluted today as the city is blanketed in thick smog.
The air quality index soared to 226 by 10am — considered "heavily polluted" — with PM2.5 being the major pollutant. The density of the hazardous compound has risen to 175.5 micrograms per cubic meter, seven times higher than healthy levels, according to the World Health Organization.
The smog was brought by a cold front from north China, the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center said.
Shanghai's Meteorological Bureau promised the air quality is expected to improve this evening, but the temperature will also drop considerably.
People walk past a street in Shanghai on November 3 when Shanghai is blanketed in thick smog.
