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Second China Visit

31-07-2015

Prof. Duncan Laxen, Managing Director of Air Quality Consultants Ltd., recently joined the second delegation of air quality experts on a visit to China, to share the UK’s experiences of assessing and managing air quality. 

The visit was hosted by the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council – the State Council is the chief administrative authority of the People’s Republic of China and is chaired by the Premier. 

The visit was organised in the UK by the Royal Academy of Engineering, with support from the British Embassy.  While there, the group experienced at first hand a Beijing smog, with PM2.5 concentrations over 280 mg/m3, falling in the ‘Hazardous’ air quality band, as defined by the US.

The main event was a ‘Symposium on Air Quality Control’, at which presentations were made by Chinese and UK experts.  For the UK, Dr David Carslaw presented on “The Use of Science to Improve Air Quality”, Prof. Martin Bigg on “Air Pollution Control”, Prof. Ross Anderson on “The Health Effects of Air Pollution” and Elliot Treharne on “London’s Air Pollution Story: from pea-souper smogs to an ultra-low emission city.”  Prof. Laxen chaired the afternoon session.

Following the symposium the delegation visited two cities in Shandong province being shown a 4GW coal fired plant fitted with Flue Gas Desulurphurisation (FGD) to reduce sulphur emissions and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions, as well as various solar energy projects.  Meetings were held with local representatives in both cities, where the importance of tackling air pollution was emphasied.

It was evident that China is taking air quality seriously, with coal fired plant in Beijing being shut down and new plant being fitted with SCR.  Fortunately, the vehicles in Beijing are largely petrol fuelled, not diesel, thereby minimising particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emissions.  There is, however, a lot to do to bring down pollution levels to more acceptable levels.

The delegation left with an agreement to propose to the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council ways to provide further support using UK expertise.



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