Shanghai air pollution at record level

Weather officials in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai are warning residents about dense smog as an air pollution index hit a record high. As per standard for PM2.5 at 70 micrograms, The average density of fine airborne particles called PM 2.5 was 220 micrograms per cubic meter in the city on Sunday. That was the highest since the city began releasing such data in June of last year.

The severe pollution continued on Monday, with the average index for 24 hours reaching 259 micrograms as of 5 PM.

Health authorities in neighboring Japan have set the daily safety standard for PM2.5 at 70 micrograms.
Shanghai figures are 3 to 4 times that of standard for PM2.5 at 70 micrograms

Shanghai weather officials on Monday has  issued a warning to citizens to refrain from going outdoors, adding that the dense smog has reduced visibility to less than 2 kilometers.

The city's kindergartens, elementary and middle schools cancelled all extracurricular activities.