Coal, gas emissions, car exhaust are major causes of air pollution

Excessive coal consumption, harmful gas discharges from chemical plants, and vehicle exhaust are the major causes of air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring areas, experts said in a report released on Sunday.

The research was carried out by the National Joint Research Center on Air Pollution Causes and Control, and was based on more than a year of monitoring and analysis of PM2.5 in 28 cities including Beijing, Tianjin and other cities in Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan provinces.

Chai Fahe, deputy director of the center, who oversaw the report, said excessive coal consumption is the most important cause, followed by gas emissions from heavy industry and vehicle exhaust.