China has set up its first air quality background monitoring station in east China's Fujian Province. Beijing Daily reports that the monitoring station, located at 948 meters above sea level in the Mount Wuyi area, provides other stations in the country with such background data as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
Chen Yitai, an expert at the station, said the Mount Wuyi area is free from pollution and enjoys air that is better than level I air quality.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted Mount Wuyi as a cultural and natural heritage protection site in 1999.
Chen said the station, affiliated to the State Environmental Protection Administration, will go into operation in March, with atotal investment of 1 million yuan (US$120,000).
Chen said three other similar stations will be set up this year.
(People's Daily January 31, 2002)
