Perfume, hair gel blamed for Beijing smog

Beijing, October 15 

Chinese experts have blamed volatile organic compounds in hair spray, perfume and air-refreshers for the recurring air pollution in the country as the dreaded smog returned to haunt Beijing city on Monday.

The air quality index in Beijing climbed to 213, categorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “very unhealthy”. Beijing, a city of over 21 million people, every year experiences air pollution, which in recent years has dropped to moderate levels following a series of measures since 2015, restricting the use of coal and shifting polluting industries out of the range.

Smog has cut life expectancy in some Chinese regions and the government has advised its citizens to buy masks and air-purifiers to protect themselves during peak pollution days. Beijing has a four-tier alert system for pollution — red the highest, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

While several studies on the reasons for heavy pollution in Beijing and northern China attribute it to heavy industrialisation and auto emissions, experts now blame volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for contributing to the poor air quality in the city. — PTI

Emergency plan in delhi 

New Delhi: As air quality remains ‘poor’, an emergency plan to combat air pollution came into force in the Delhi-NCR region on Monday. It will include category-wise measures such as a ban on diesel power generator sets, mechanised sweeping of roads, ban on garbage burning and deployment of traffic police to ensure the smooth passage of traffic at vulnerable areas.

About Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature
• VOCs are concentrated in aerosols like perfume, hair gel, insecticide and cleaning agents
• These generate particle pollutants through a series of reactions