Toxic Smog- China

A heavy, Toxic smog is covering NE China.  The smog has caused many schools to close down, flights have been delayed, trains and buses stopped running and it has caused some highway closings.  It is expected that the fog will worsen within the next 24 hours bringing visability down to 100 meters, in a few spots the visability had gone down to 20 meters. People have been buying protective masks to keep from inhaling the bad air. "My mask turned black after I wore it for half an hour," said a citizen of Harbin.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/world/asia/china-smog-lingers/

 



This hazard is technological because it is due to air pollutants caused by humans. The big pollutant emissions are from coal-burning, vehicle exhaust and the burning of crop stalk on the outskirts, according to environmental authorities in Heilongjiang.

There isn't much protection against something like this without stopping constant pollution.  The defense is mainly adaption because they had masks ready for sale.  They are also able to warn the rest of the country that are in danger of the smog to roll in.  Other protective measures include keeping people indoors(especially the elderly or young children).

http://www.newsbullet.in/world/52-more/46748-china-city-shutdown-due-to-hazardous-smog

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/world/asia/china-smog-lingers/