China to check city pollution every hour

China plans to release hourly air pollution monitoring data in 74 of its biggest cities starting tomorrow, state media has said, in a sign of increasing responsiveness to quality-of-life concerns among prosperous urban 
people.

Choking pollution and murky grey skies in Chinese cities is a top complaint among both Chinese and expatriates.

Microscopic pollutant particles in the air have killed about 8,600 people prematurely this year and cost millions in economic losses in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi’an, according to a study by Beijing University and Greenpeace that measured the pollutant levels of PM2.5, or particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter.

The new monitoring will include not only PM2.5, but also sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide, the Xinhua news agency said, citing an announcement by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.