China’s Environment Ministry says air quality gets a failing grade in 66 of 74 major cities

BEIJING, China – China’s Environment Ministry says 66 of the nation’s 74 major cities, including the capital Beijing, failed to meet basic air quality standards last year.

The worst-performing cities were in the country’s north adjacent to Beijing, with the Hebei province industrial centre of Baoding just to the southwest coming in dead last.

Haikou, capital of the southern island province of Hainan, had the best air among major cities, with the Tibetan capital Lhasa coming third.

A ministry report published on its website Tuesday said ratings were conducted based on samples of major pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone.

On a positive note, the number of cities meeting standards was up from three in 2013 and average PM2.5 levels were down slightly in the Beijing region.