Weekend cold front to disperse pollution in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is expected to improve from Friday, as a stronger cold front helps disperse the fog and pollutants that have settled over the area in recent days, Beijing News reported.

The region has experienced a period of poor air quality largely due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to Wang Shuxiao, a professor at Tsinghua University. "The region was under the influence of weak southeastern winds, surface-based inversions, and high humidity, which hampered the dispersion of pollutants," he said.

Local emissions remain a concern. With the winter heating season underway and continued activity from vehicles and industry, pollutant levels have seen a seasonal rise. In addition, polluted air masses from Anhui province, influenced by agricultural fires, have moved northwards, contributing to elevated PM2.5 levels across the region, according to the report.

By Wednesday, 24 cities in the region had issued pollution alerts. Measures included reduced industrial output and restrictions on diesel truck traffic, which helped temporarily curb emissions.

Authorities say the combination of rainfall and an incoming cold front has started to ease conditions in the region, with further improvements in air quality expected later in the week.