Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Support PBS Shop PBS Search PBS

   
 the Online NewsHour
E-mail This Page Print This Page
the Online NewsHourChevronIntelBNSF RailwayWells FargoToyotaMonsantoCorporation for Public Broadcasting
BROWSE BY
REGION
TOPIC
RECENT PROGRAMSLOCAL TV LISTINGSSUBSCRIPTIONSTEACHER RESOURCESSEARCH


REGION: Asia-Pacific
TOPIC: Health
Online NewsHour
FORUM
Posted: August 4, 2008

Air Pollution in China

 Forum Introduction
Kenneth Rahn Atmospheric chemist Kenneth Rahn regularly travels to China to consult with scientists there about the country's air pollution problem. Rahn took your questions about pollution in Beijing during the run-up to the Olympic Games.
QUESTIONS
Have recent Chinese government efforts to reduce the pollution been effective?
How does pollution in Beijing compare to metropolitan areas in the United States?
How does air quality in Beijing compare to previous Olympic locations?
Are pollution problems less serious in other Chinese cities?
What is the chemical makeup of pollution in Beijing?
Is there any way to find out pollution levels in a localized way?
Do the Chinese have a realistic chance of cleaning up the pollution in Beijing?
Will China's efforts to curb pollution affect air quality in the United States?
What about the three southern cities mentioned in the NewsHour story?
Do you see this as a public education opportunity?
What are the long-term effects on the Chinese population?
Does pollution stay in the lungs or get flushed out over time?
Sophia of Duluth, Ga. asks
Are there any long term studies showing the effects of pollution on the general health of the Chinese population?
ANSWERS
Kenneth Rahn responds:

Sorry, but this is not my field. I suspect that such studies are still few and far between in China. I have seen conflicting claims for excess deaths from air pollution, and so don't know what to believe.

One big confounding factor is the omnipresence of cigarette smoke in China. It is nearly impossible to escape from, because so many men smoke indoors. If you are a smoker, you can forget about outdoor air pollution, because it is negligible relative to your indoor pollution. The same probably holds for living with a smoker.

Next Question and Answer
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
  Main: China Prepares for Olympics
Resources
  Interactive: Compare Life in
  Olympic Host Cities
  Slide Show: Olympic Stadiums
  Around the Globe
  Archive
Air Pollution in China
For Students and Teachers
  Lesson Plan
  Politics and the Olympics
  Student Voice
  Returning to China
CURRENT NEWSHOUR HEADLINES
Across the U.S., Shaky Signs of Economic Recovery Emerge

Senate Debate on Health Care Will Put Lawmakers to the Test

India's Economy Remains Robust Despite Global Downturn







ABOUT US | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS / FEEDS: 
POD|RSS
Funded, in part, by:ChevronIntelBNSF RailwayWells FargoToyotaMonsantoCorporation for Public Broadcasting
            Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station.
PBS Online Privacy Policy

Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.