US Embassy Website Describes Beijing Air Quality As "Crazy Bad" - Hazardous For All By US Standards

[hatrack]

BEIJING — Pollution in Beijing was so bad Friday the U.S. Embassy, which has been independently monitoring air quality, ran out of conventional adjectives to describe it, at one point saying it was "crazy bad."

The embassy later deleted the phrase, saying it was an "incorrect" description and it would revise the language to use when the air quality index goes above 500, its highest point and a level considered hazardous for all people by U.S. standards.

The hazardous haze has forced schools to stop outdoor exercises, and health experts asked residents, especially those with respiratory problems, the elderly and children, to stay indoors.

"We've canceled 10 days worth of games since August," said David Niven, chief operating officer of China ClubFootball, which runs extensive youth and adult football leagues in Beijing. "If the air is above 240, some of the schools will ask us to move football games indoors or cancel them altogether. Because of the bad air this year, we've had to cancel more games than ever before." Health experts say breathing polluted air can affect respiratory functions and worsen problems for those with asthma or allergies.

EDIT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/19/us-embassy-beijing-air-qu_n_785870.html

[Taverner]

1. No...no - I think Crazy Bad should stay

I knew EXACTLY what they were talking about when they said that

[liberal N proud]

2. I will attest to the term crazy bad

I have a picture I took one day while there a few weeks ago. The air was thick enough to cut with a knife and had a erie green tint.

The first day in Beijing, as the plane landed, you look out the window of the jet and couldn't even see the terminal as you are taxing past it.

There was one day where the sky was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and the air was clear, but I think they are rare.

[pscot]

3. On the positive side

The cadmium and sulphur compounds they dump into the air provide the spectacular greens and golds for our sunsets here in Pugetopolis.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Maybe you could get them to add a little copper

for a nice turquoise touch.