The air pollution in China has become so bad the government has issued their first ever Red Alert. Schools in Beijing are closing and outdoor construction is to cease. The state-run Xinhua news agency says the red alert is the highest possible, and has not been used in the city before.
The air quality is so bad that it is unhealthy to breath. The very young, old and physically active are the most prone to ill-effects. Breathing the air could result in respiratory disease or even death.
Beijing Air Quality