Air quality in Jiaozuo

What is the level of polluted air in Jiaozuo?

Jiaozuo is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Henan province, China. It is located on the northern bank of the Yellow River. It is one of the main cities of the Central Plains agglomeration. In 2016 as a result of a census, it was estimated that the population was 3.7 million people. Out of those, 1.3 million live in the metro area of Jiefang, Shanyang, Zhongzhan and Macun.

At the start of the second quarter of 2021, the quality of the air in Jiaozuo was classed as being “Moderate” with a US AQI number of 57. This is in line with the recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The recorded levels of the 6 main pollutants were as follows: PM2.5 - 15 µg/m³, PM10 - 51 µg/m³, ozone (O₃) - 94 µg/m³, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - 12 µg/m³, sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 6 µg/m³ and carbon monoxide (CO) - 400 µg/m³. With pollution at this level, it is advisable to close doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air into the rooms. Those of a sensitive disposition should avoid outdoor activities until the air quality improves. You can check the table at the top of this page to find out what the current levels are.

Does the level of air pollution vary throughout the year in Jiaozuo?

Due to the nature of air pollution and the different sources, the level can and does vary, even throughout the day and in different places within the same city.

Looking back at the latest figures published by IQAir.com on their website, it can be seen that in 2020 the worst time of year for air pollution was during the autumn and winter months from October until the end of February. During these months, the air quality was classified as being “Unhealthy” with readings between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³. For the months of March and April, June and July and September the air quality was “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with readings between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³. The remaining months of May and August experienced “Moderate” air with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

When comparing the figures from previous years, the quality of air is improving. The first records were from 2017 when the recorded figure was 74.8 µg/m³. The following year saw an improvement when the figure was seen to be 66.9 µg/m³. In 2019, the level had fallen yet again to 61.3 µg/m³ and in 2020 there was a further improvement with a recorded figure of 56.2 µg/m³. However, this low figure might have been affected by the lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the current state of air pollution in Jiaozuo?

In 2018, the average concentration of PM2.5 dropped by 1.6 per cent year-on-year, and the percentage of good days reached 56.6 per cent. The air quality of the city throughout the year was still prone to light pollution.

The quality of the atmospheric environment continues to improve. PM2.5 is still the primary pollutant of urban air quality in Henan Province. The annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in the province were 103 µg/m³ and 61 µg/m³, respectively, down 2.8 per cent and 1.6 per cent year-on-year, and the proportion of good days reached 56.6 per cent. However, from an overall point of view, the average annual level of urban ambient air quality in cities under the jurisdiction of the province is still light pollution. Among them, the environmental air quality of Jiaozuo and Anyang is moderately polluted, and the remaining 16 cities are lightly polluted.

Where does the polluted air come from in Jiaozuo?

One of the main sources of air pollution is from sand and dust blown in from surrounding areas.

In Jiaozuo, once known as the "Coal City", companies with high energy consumption, high pollution and high emissions have long accounted for a relatively large proportion. In the first half of last year, Jiaozuo's comprehensive air quality index ranked second in the province. After the province’s air pollution prevention and control battle started, Jiaozuo City took immediate action, strict responsibility, and comprehensive rectification, especially in the northern mountainous area of the city due to long-term private mining and excessive digging caused ecological damage and air pollution. The effect was obvious. PM10, the average concentration of PM2.5 decreased significantly year-on-year, and the number of days with good air quality increased significantly.

During an inspection of industries operating in the northern mountainous regions. In one factory area, more than a dozen rusty trucks were loaded with limestone, and stones were dumped at random on the hillside. No dust suppression measures were seen during open-air operations. These dust particles drifted into the urban area with the wind, causing serious air pollution and must be rectified as soon as possible.

In the Jiulishan Gas Power Plant, the coal slag in the yard is piled up like a mountain, the ground is not hardened and sprinkled with water, and the ash and slag fly up when people and cars pass by. There are many similar stockpiles in Beishan. Coal slag can be used for power generation and reuse, and it can also be compacted, covered, and greened. It cannot be left exposed for a long time.

What can be done to improve air quality in Jiaozuo?

Construction waste and domestic waste are major sources of dust pollution. Effective measures such as thorough removal, transfer to landfill, full coverage, and greening as soon as possible must be taken to prevent spreading by the wind. The slag, river sand, cargo coal, cement furnace ash and other piles surrounding the city shall be rectified centrally, and the government shall plan and set up locations and store them in a unified manner. Comprehensive investigations lead to closures of small steel-smelting, small coking plants and other small enterprises around the city. In order to clear the "scrap piles", polluting waste electrical and electronic products, waste plastic products, etc., should be cleaned up according to different characteristics, and the recycling, utilisation, and processing of hazardous waste products should be regulated as soon as possible. The spray-painting operations should be eliminated, and the enterprises and workshops that perform open-air spraying operations such as galvanizing and painting on the outskirts of the city should be relocated, standardized and rectified to reduce the pollution of volatile and harmful gases.