Air pollution jumped to alarming levels last month

Northeast hit hardest by smog; Shenyang worst among 74 cities

Recent spells of severe smog engulfing northeastern and northern regions of China contributed to November's alarming rise in pollution levels, according to the nation's top environmental watchdog.

Beijing saw its readings of PM2.5 - hazardous particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter - soar to 118 micrograms per cubic meter on average in November, a year-on-year increase of 39 percent, according to the monthly report released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Sunday.