The day following the Chinese Lantern Festival, February 10, 2009, saw the most serious air pollution of the year in Beijing.
Data from Beijing's Municipal Environment Bureau shows that Beijing's air quality reached the fifth class, a high degree of seriousness on the day, and it was the most serious pollution in the city in the past eight months.
A BMEB representative told local media that the city's air was slightly polluted on the very day of the Lantern Festival, and due to the combustion of fireworks on the night of the Lantern Festival, the pollutants became dense and reached 810gamma per stere, which, coupled with the still air, further worsened the air quality of the Chinese capital.
The most severe air pollution level in Beijing happened last on May 26, 2008. It is estimated by BMEB that the city's air quality will continue to improve.
