TIANJIN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin Municipality saw a decline in the density of hazardous fine particulate matter PM2.5 in the first half of this year, the Tianjin Ecology and Environment Bureau said Wednesday.
The city's average PM2.5 density dropped to 53 micrograms per cubic meter in the first six months, down 7 percent year on year.
PM2.5 is particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that causes smog. The World Health Organization recommends an annual PM 2.5 level of 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
The city saw 118 good air quality days in H1, nine days more than the same period last year. The number of heavy air pollution days was 11, one day less than the same period last year.
To improve air quality, the city has taken measures such as overhauling industrial parks, banning high-polluting vehicles and machinery at the port and strengthening efforts to control dust pollution and emission of volatile organic compounds.
The city has set a target of keeping the annual average PM2.5 concentration at about 48 micrograms per cubic meter. Enditem
