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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 3:30 AM UTC

Pollution off the index again in China’s capital

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Topics: From the Wires,

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing’s pollution has reached especially high levels again as smog blankets much of China’s central and eastern areas.

After days of worsening visibility on the capital’s streets, the U.S. Embassy reported early Tuesday morning that the level of pollution was “beyond index.” Since Saturday, it has reported hourly pollution levels as hazardous to human health.

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center says pollution across Beijing is severe and expected to persist because there is little wind to disperse pollutants. It advises city residents to stay indoors as much as possible.

According to U.S. Embassy readings, PM2.5 particles — among the worst pollutants — reached levels more than 18 times what the World Health Organization considers safe.

Beijing experienced another especially bad round of air pollution two weeks ago.

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

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  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

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