In 2003, China maintained its environmental quality nationwide basically at the level of the previous year. In 41.7% of all the cities, air quality reached national air quality standard for Grade II, a 7.9% increase compared with that of the previous year.

However urban air pollution remained a serious issue. Acid rain affected zones remained stable on the whole, while pollution in some areas of Hunan, Zhejiang and Jiangxi further worsened.

Water quality in major river basins stayed at the level of the previous year. The pollution of the Hai, Liao, and Huai River slightly decreased while the Songhua River, Pearl River experienced an increase of pollution. Pollution in offshore areas of the Yellow Sea worsened. Water quality in the offshore areas of the Bohai and East Sea slightly improved while pollution remains serious. Water quality in the offshore areas of the South China Sea stayed at the level of the previous year.

Urban noise pollution was basically under control. More than half of the cities and urban areas enjoyed reasonably good acoustic environment. Approximately 80% of the cities boasted relatively good road traffic acoustic environmental quality. However noise pollution remained one of the environmental problems strongly felt by urban residents.

I. Urban Air Quality

In 2003, of the 340 cities monitored, 142 cities recorded urban air quality reaching national air quality standard for Grade II, accounting for 41.7% of the total and registering an increase of 7.9% than that of the previous year. 108 cities recorded urban air quality reaching national air quality standard for Grade III, accounting for 31.8% of the total and registering a decrease of 3.2% than the previous year. 91 cities recorded urban air quality lower than Grade III, accounting for 26.5% of the total and registering a decrease of 4.7% than the previous year. Nationally speaking, urban air quality improved in general.

Particulate matter remained as the main pollutant affecting urban air quality. The concentration of particulate matter exceeded the national standard for Grade II in 54.4% of the cities. Cities suffering from serious sulfur dioxide pollution were mainly located in Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, Guizhou, Congqing, Sichuan and other regions.

Among the 340 cities monitored, 64 cities were located in sulfur dioxide control zones, 40.6% of which had a sulfur dioxide concentration reaching national standard for Grade II; 116 cities were in the acid rain control zones, 74.1% of which had a sulfur dioxide concentration reaching national standard for Grade II.

II. Water Quality in Major River Basins

The Seven River Basins: In 2003, 37.7% of the 409 monitored sections met national water quality standard for Grade I-III, 32.0% met Grade IV-V, and 30.3% was lower than Grade V. Generally speaking, water quality remained at the level of the previous year. Water quality in the main streams of each river basin was better that that in the tributaries. 52.5% of the 118 monitored sections in the main streams met national quality standard for Grade I-III, 38.1% met Grade IV-V and 9.3% was lower than Grade V. Major pollutant indicators included ammonia nitrogen, 5-day BOD, permanganate index and petroleum. The comprehensive analysis of pollutant indicators showed that water quality in the Yangtze and Pearl River was comparatively good while water quality in the Hai and Liao River was less satisfying.

Of the 122 provincial monitored sections, 34.4% met the national standard for Grade I-III, 29.5% met Grade IV-V standard, and 36.1% were lower than Grade V standard. Water quality in the provincial monitored sections in the Huai River and Hai River was found to be relatively poor.

The Three Lakes: Water quality in the three lakes was worse than the national standard for Grade V, due to serious pollution by nitrogen and phosphate. Tai Lake was in a state of light eutrophication, Chao Lake was in a state of intermediate eutrophication and Dian Chi remained in a state of serious eutrophication.

The Three-Gorges Reservoir Area: Of the 6 monitored sections in the mainstreams, 5 met the national standard for Grade II and 1 met the Grade III standard, showing relatively good water quality.

The East Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project: Of the 10 monitored sections, 30.0% met the national standard for Grade I-III, 50.0% met the Grade IV-V standard, and 20.0% was lower than Grade V. Major pollutant indicators were ammonia nitrogen and 5-day BOD.

Source Water Quality of Centralized Drinking Water Supply in Key Environmental Protection Cities: Of the 47 cities monitored, 21 had source water quality meeting the national standard while 26 had water quality exceeding the national standard to difference extent. For ground water, the outstanding pollutant indicators were nitrogen, Fecal coliform and E. Coli, and 5-day BOD etc.. For underground water, the outstanding pollutant indicators were total hardness and sulfates.

III. Acid Rain

Nation-wide: In 2003, acid rain (PH value equaling to or lower than 5.6) occurred in 265 cities and towns among the 487 cities monitored, accounting for 54.4%. In 182 cities, 37.4% of the total, annual average precipitation PH value equaled to or was lower than 5.6. Generally speaking, acid rain pollution worsened nation-wide.

Compared with the previous year, the percentage of cities with annual average precipitation PH value equaling to or lower than 5.6 and 4.5 increased by 4.8% and 2.8% respectively. The percentage of cities with annual average precipitation PH value between 4.5 and 5.0 increased by 3.2%. The percentage of cities with no acid rain occurrence decreased. The percentage of cities with acid rain occurrence frequency higher than 40% increased by 7.2%. The above statistics indicated that in 2003 acid rain pollution was more serious than in 2002.

Acid Rain Control Zones: In 2003, acid rain occurred in 95 cities, accounting for 89.6% of all the 106 cities in the acid rain control zones. The frequency of acid rain occurrence exceeded 95% in 4 cities including Huaihua and Jishou in Huhan province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang, and Fuzhou in Jiangxi. The frequency of acid rain occurrence in the city of Fuzhou reached 100%. Of all 106 cities, 75 had annual average precipitation PH value lower than or equaling to 5.6, accounting for 70.8%. The annual average PH value in Pingxiang of Jiangxi Province, Yibin of Sichuan Province and Jishou of Hunan Province was lower than 4.0.

Compared with the previous year, the percentage of cities with acid rain occurrence frequency between 20%-40% decreased by 11.5% while the percentage of those with a frequency higher than 40% increased by 6.9%. The percentage of cities with annual average precipitation PH value higher than 5.0 decreased by 6.8% while the percentage of those with PH value between 4.5 and 5.0 increased by 6.4%. Within the acid rain control zones, acid rain pollution scope remained basically stable, while acid rain pollution in already seriously polluted areas further worsened.

IV. Water Quality in Offshore Areas

Offshore Seawater Quality in China: In 2003, water quality monitoring was conducted at 237 points in offshore areas of China. 50.2% of the points had seawater quality reaching Grade I or II standard, 0.5% up than the previous year. 30.0% of the points had seawater quality reaching or worse than Grade IV, registering a 5.9% decrease than last year. Offshore marine pollution was alleviated to some extent.

Offshore Seawater Quality in the Four Seas: The general water quality of the Yellow Sea and South China Sea was relatively good. The percentage of seawater quality reaching Grade I and II was 68.7% and 57.9% respectively, decreasing by 9.5% and 6.5% than the previous year. Seawater quality in the Bohai Sea improved, with 50% of its seawater quality reaching Grade I and II, 11.9% higher than last year. The seawater quality in the East Sea was relatively poor, with no Grade I seawater and Grade II water covering 30.4%.

Offshore Seawater Quality in Coastal Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities Directly Under the Administration of the Central Government: Offshore seawater quality was relatively good in Guangxi, Hainan, Liaoning and Shandong Province, with Grade I and II seawater covering a percentage of 70% and higher. The offshore seawater quality in Shanghai and Tianjin was relatively poor. In Shanghai, the offshore seawater quality was worse than Grade IV. In Tianjin, there were no Grade I or II offshore seawater.

V. Urban Acoustic Environment

Urban District Noise: In 2003, among the total 352 cities, 2 cities (Yan'an in Shaanxi and Tieling in Liaoning) experienced serious noise pollution, accounting for 0.6% of the total. 9 cities had intermediate noise pollution, accounting for 2.6% and 150 cities had light noise pollution, accounting for 42.6%. 178 cities had good acoustic environment, accounting for 50.6%. In 13 cities, accounting for 3.6% of the total, the equivalent sound levels were lower than 50db, showing good acoustic environment.

Road Traffic Noise: Among the total 401 cities, 13 cities had serious noise pollution, accounting for 3.2%. 21 cities had intermediate noise pollution, accounting for 5.2%. 50 cities had light noise pollution, accounting for 12.5%. 141 cities had good road traffic acoustic environment, accounting for 35.2%. The equivalent sound levels in 176 cities, accounting for 43.9%, were lower than 68db (A), showing good acoustic environment.