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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Beijing 'failing pollution test' | Beijing 'failing pollution test' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Just a month to go before the start of the Beijing Olympics, the city is still failing to meet international air quality standards, the BBC has found. | Just a month to go before the start of the Beijing Olympics, the city is still failing to meet international air quality standards, the BBC has found. |
| When Beijing bid for the Olympics in 2001, it said that its air would meet World Health Organization standards. | When Beijing bid for the Olympics in 2001, it said that its air would meet World Health Organization standards. |
| The BBC put this to the test using a hand-held detector to test for airborne particles known as PM10. | The BBC put this to the test using a hand-held detector to test for airborne particles known as PM10. |
| We found that the city's air failed to meet the WHO's air quality guidelines for PM10 on six days out of seven. | We found that the city's air failed to meet the WHO's air quality guidelines for PM10 on six days out of seven. |
| These particles are caused by traffic, construction work and factory emissions. They are responsible for much of this city's pollution. | These particles are caused by traffic, construction work and factory emissions. They are responsible for much of this city's pollution. |
| On one of these days, the pollution reading was seven times over the WHO's air quality guideline. | On one of these days, the pollution reading was seven times over the WHO's air quality guideline. |
| By comparison, recent readings done in London - the site of the 2012 Games - all fall within the WHO's guidelines. | By comparison, recent readings done in London - the site of the 2012 Games - all fall within the WHO's guidelines. |
| Beijing insists that there is still time to get things right. | Beijing insists that there is still time to get things right. |
| Later this month it is imposing a series of emergency air-quality measures which will take cars off the streets and shut down building sites. | Later this month it is imposing a series of emergency air-quality measures which will take cars off the streets and shut down building sites. |
| One official has told the BBC that he is confident that Beijing will still fulfil its clean-air promise. | One official has told the BBC that he is confident that Beijing will still fulfil its clean-air promise. |
| But this city does not have all that much time left. | But this city does not have all that much time left. |
| Are you in Beijing? What is your experience of pollution in the city? You can send your pictures and video of the Beijing skyline as the city tries to cut down on pollution to: | |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions | |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | |