Comments on China's New Ambient Air Quality Standards

Abstract

This article compares the new ambient quality standards adopted by China on 29 February 2012 with the previous ambient air quality standards and reveals the significance of and reasons for this revision. It points out that the new ambient air quality standards added fine particulate matters into the items to be monitored, reclassified monitored items into the group of basic items to be mandatorily monitored nationwide and the group of other pollutants to be monitored discretionally, and set the maximum concentration for each of the two categories of areas. This revision was in response to the demand of the general public for less pollution and better information on the air quality. This revision is important for the human health because it imposes a new task on local governments. The new standard shall be implemented gradually, beginning with most seriously polluted areas, and finally to be implemented nation-wide. This revision is expected to contribute to better protection of human health.