Olympic Pollution #
July 17th, 2008 | In Worth Considering
At least one scientist doubts China’s ability to keep Beijing’s air quality within acceptable limits for Olympic competition:
China’s basic air problem is that the city experiences roughly weekly meteorological cycles in which stagnant, polluted air coming from the provinces south of Beijing is flushed out by cold fronts from Mongolia. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, there is little that the authorities can do, Rahn said.
“I’m glad I’m not an Olympic organizer responsible for canceling these events,” Rahn said. “It is a borderline situation and unpredictable until the 11th hour. “