China will start to monitor new pollutants

China will begin monitoring additional air pollutants after the Olympic Games, a state news agency reported.

The two pollutants, ozone and small particulate matter known as PM2.5, are not included in current air quality reports. The Ministry of Environmental Protection was making technical preparations to monitor the two pollutants, Xinhua News Agency said late Sunday.

"We should be able to start regular monitoring of ozone and PM2.5 next year, which would lead to measures to deal with them," Fan Yuansheng, director general of the department of pollution control at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, was quoted as saying.

The Environment Ministry releases an air pollution rating each day for Beijing, called an Air Pollution Index, but this does not include ozone and tiny particulate matter.

The ultra-fine dust particles, at 2.5 micrometers, are considered especially harmful to health because they are small enough to penetrate the lungs and create respiratory problems. Ozone, a colorless gas, can also cause respiratory problems.

The host city's polluted air has been one of the biggest worries for Olympic organizers and prompted drastic measures earlier this month that included pulling half the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads, halting most construction and closing some factories in the capital and surrounding provinces.

"These measures have been effective so far," Fan said.

Fan said measures to reduce pollution in Beijing for the games would stay in force afterward. For example, government cars will be kept off the road for one day each week, according to their license plate numbers, he said.

Whether Beijing's efforts actually result in clear skies for the games remains to be seen. Since the factory closures and traffic restrictions kicked in on July 20, Beijing's air pollution levels have gone up and down, though the general trend is decreasing.

Last Friday marked the clearest change visually, with the persistent haze giving way to clear skies and the lowest recorded air pollution levels.

Weather officials said Sunday the forecast for this Friday's Olympic opening ceremony may include overcast skies or rain. The heavy haze that had cleared up over the weekend returned on Monday, blanketing the city in thick white layers.