Greenpeace Ranks 360 Chinese Cities by PM2.5 Air Pollution (Q1 2015)

With the number of Chinese cities practicing the Ambient Air Quality Standard

(GB3095-2012) increasing to 367 in 2015, the quantity of city-level air quality data available

to the Chinese public now is unprecedented.

The Ambient Air Quality Standard mandates regular monitoring of 6 air pollutants, including

PM2.5 concentration. Greenpeace has ranked 360 cities offering valid air pollution data in Q1

2015, by analyzing their PM2.5 concentration. We have discovered the following highlights:

PM2.5 pollution remains severe in 2015. In Q1 2015, the average PM2.5 concentration in

360 Chinese cities reached 66 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter), almost doubling

the national Grade II air quality standard (35μg/m3).

More than 90% of all 360 cities failed to meet the national air quality standard in Q1

2015. Q1 PM2.5 concentration levels were up to standard in only 32 cities, while 141, or

nearly 40%, of the cities recorded quarterly average PM2.5 concentrations more than

twice the national standard.

The unprecedentedly extensive disclosure of PM2.5 pollution data also reveals severity of

the air pollution problem in China’s central and western regions. The provinces of

Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan, all located in either Central or Western China, were

among the 10 worst polluted provinces in Q1 2015 by PM2.5 concentrations. In

particular, with quarterly PM2.5 concentrations of 103.3 μg/m3 and 99.2 μg/m3, the

Provinces of Henan and Hubei have already surpassed Hebei Province which is

notorious for its bad air quality.

Centers of economic activities, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area, Yangtze River

Delta and Pearl River Delta, are still facing severe PM2.5 pollution. Q1 PM2.5

concentrations in these three areas reached 96.9 μg/m3, 69.4 μg/m3 and 47.6 μg/m3

respectively. On closer inspection, the provinces that recorded the worst Q1 PM2.5

pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area and Yangtze River Delta are Hebei Province

and Jiangsu Province respectively. Q1 PM2.5 concentrations came to 98.4 μg/m3 in Hebei

and 76.7 μg/m3 in Jiangsu, outnumbering levels in their neighboring provinces by a

large margin.

How we created this ranking:

In order to reflect PM2.5 pollution situations in Chinese cities in a comprehensive and

objective fashion, Greenpeace took official data published by the Ministry of Environmental

Protection. We obtained all the hourlyPM2.5 concentrations recorded by every single

state-controlled monitoring station in 367 cities. Subsequently, we calculated the arithmetic

means of all the data recorded in Q1 by each city to obtain the city-level Q1 average PM2.5

concentrations. We then calculated the arithmetic means of quarterly concentrations of all

the prefecture-level cities with state-controlled air quality monitoring stations in each

province to obtain the provincial Q1 PM2.5 concentrations. It is worth noting that we

excluded seven cities from this ranking due to substantial flaws in their air quality data.

PM2.5 Ranking of China's 31 provinces in Q1, 2015

Ranking Province

Quarterly average PM2.5 level (μ

g/m3)

1 Henan 103.3

2 Hubei 99.2

3 Hebei 98.4

4 Beijing 92.4

5 Shandong 91.0

6 Chongqing 85.3

7 Tianjin 85.1

8 Jiangsu 76.7

9 Hunan 74.6

10 Sichuan 72.8

11 Shaanxi 71.0

12 Xinjiang 70.3

13 Liaoning 68.4

14 Shanghai 67.9

15 Jilin 67.6

16 Shanxi 66.0

17 Gansu 64.7

18 Anhu 63.9

19 Guangxi 62.6

20 Zhejiang 60.9

21 Ningxia 58.3

22 Jiangxi 51.6

23 Heilongjiang 51.0

24 Qinghai 50.2

25 Guangdong 47.6

26 Inner Mongolia 47.5

27 Guizhou 43.6

28 Yunnan 40.3

29 Fujian 39.9

30 Hainan 28.4

31 Tibet 26.7

PM2.5 Ranking of China's 360 cities in Q1, 2015

Ranking City Province

Quarterly average

PM2.5 level (μg/m3)

1 Baoding Hebei 157.0

2 Kashi Xinjiang 138.4

3 Xingtai Hebei 137.4

4 Zhengzhou Henan 134.7

5 Yichang Hubei 130.7

6 Jiaozuo Henan 125.1

7 Xiangyang Hubei 124.3

8 Anyang Henan 124.0

9 Heze Shandong 120.3

10 Shijiazhuang Hebei 117.6

11 Hengshui Hebei 116.8

12 Handan Hebei 116.0

13 Xinxiang Henan 114.6

14 Dezhou Shandong 113.9

15 Linxiazhou Gansu 113.7

16 Jingmen Hubei 113.1

17 Liaocheng Shandong 112.8

18 Pingdingshan Henan 111.4

19 Zigong Sichuan 110.8

20 Zaozhuang Shandong 109.8

21 Xiaogan Hubei 107.1

22 Laiwu Shandong 106.3

23 Linyi Shandong 105.9

24 Suizhou Hubei 104.7

25 Jingzhou Hubei 103.7

26 Nanyang Henan 103.7

27 Wuhan Hubei 103.4

28 Zhoukou Henan 102.8

29 Urumqi Xinjiang 102.6

30 Zibo Shandong 101.7

31 Dazhou Sichuan 101.3

32 Xuchang Henan 100.8

33 Tulufan Xinjiang 100.6

34 Shouguang Shandong 100.2

35 Puyang Henan 100.1

36 Tangshan Hebei 100.1

37 Luoyang Henan 100.0

38 Harbin Heilongjiang 99.4

39 Sanmenxia Henan 99.0

40 Hetian Xinjiang 98.3

41 Jinan Shandong 98.0

42 Langfang Hebei 97.3

43 Neijiang Sichuan 97.0

44 Luzhou Sichuan 97.0

45 Shenyang Liaoning 96.1

46 Xinyang Henan 94.9

47 Kaifeng Henan 94.5

48 Chengdu Sichuan 93.4

49 Yibin Sichuan 93.1

50 Binzhou Shandong 93.1

51 Luohe Henan 92.8

52 Beijing Beijing 92.4

53 Hanzhong Shaanxi 91.9

54 Ezhou Hubei 91.3

55 Zhumadian Henan 89.8

56 Zhangqiu Shandong 89.5

57 Meishan Sichuan 89.4

58 Changsha Hunan 89.3

59 Jining Shandong 89.3

60 Shangqiu Henan 89.2

61 Enshizhou Hubei 88.4

62 Huangshi Hubei 88.3

63 Nanchong Sichuan 88.1

64 Xuzhou Jiangsu 87.9

65 Taian Shandong 86.0

66 Zhangjiagang Jiangsu 85.4

67 Chongqing Chongqing 85.3

68 Changzhou Jiangsu 85.1

69 Tianjin Tianjin 85.1

70 Dongying Shandong 85.0

71 Zhuzhou Hunan 84.6

72 Jiangyin Jiangsu 84.5

73 Huanggang Hubei 84.5

74 Hefei Anhui 84.0

75 Anshan Liaoning 83.0

76 Shaoyang Hunan 82.0

77 Leshan Sichuan 81.6

78 Ankang Shaanxi 81.6

79 Changchun Jilin 81.5

80 Weifang Shandong 81.5

81 Cangzhou Hebei 81.1

82 Shihezi Xinjiang 80.8

83 Huaian Jiangsu 80.6

84 Xiangtan Hunan 80.0

85 Hengyang Hunan 79.6

86 Liaoyang Liaoning 79.3

87 Suqian Jiangsu 79.2

88 Wuxi Jiangsu 79.2

89 Huaibei Anhui 79.2

90 Hebi Henan 78.9

91 Changji Xinjiang 78.9

92 Tongchuan Shaanxi 78.8

93 Guangan Sichuan 78.1

94 Taizhou Jiangsu 78.0

95 Pingxiang Jiangxi 77.8

96 Linfen Shanxi 77.7

97 Ma'anshan Anhui 77.6

98 Suzhou Jiangsu 77.5

99 Deyang Sichuan 77.3

100 Suining Sichuan 77.1

101 Huzhou Zhejiang 76.6

102 Yongzhou Hunan 76.5

103 Laixi Shandong 76.4

104 Liuzhou Guangxi 76.4

105 Nanjing Jiangsu 76.3

106 Xianning Hubei 75.9

107 Liyang Jiangsu 75.8

108 Zhangye Gansu 75.5

109 Yuncheng Shanxi 75.5

110 Zhangjiajie Hunan 75.5

111 Rizhao Shandong 75.5

112 Nantong Jiangsu 75.5

113 Loudi Hunan 75.4

114 Jilin Jilin 75.2

115 Pingliang Gansu 75.1

116 Huaihua Hunan 74.6

117 Fushun Liaoning 74.2

118 Weinan Shaanxi 74.0

119 Shiyan Hubei 73.9

120 Jiaonan Shandong 73.7

121 Baishan Jilin 73.7

122 Xi'an Shaanxi 73.6

123 Tianshui Gansu 73.3

124 Jurong Jiangsu 72.7

125 Wafangdian Liaoning 72.6

126 Shuozhou Shanxi 72.2

127 Yiwu Zhejiang 71.4

128 Zhenjiang Jiangsu 71.4

129 Qinhuangdao Hebei 71.2

130 Changde Hunan 71.2

131 Liaoyuan Jilin 71.0

132 Changshu Jiangsu 71.0

133 Guilin Guangxi 70.8

134 Siping Jilin 70.7

135 Xianyang Shaanxi 70.7

136 Suzhou Anhui 70.7

137 Taiyuan Shanxi 70.6

138 Laizhou Shandong 70.5

139 Tongling Anhui 70.3

140 Lianyungang Jiangsu 70.2

141 Hangzhou Zhejiang 70.2

142 Baoji Shaanxi 70.1

143 Haimen Jiangsu 69.9

144 Tieling Liaoning 69.8

145 Yangzhou Jiangsu 69.8

146 Laibin Guangxi 69.1

147 Jintan Jiangsu 69.0

148 Taicang Jiangsu 68.9

149 Changzhi Shanxi 68.9

150 Qitaihe Heilongjiang 68.7

151 Bengbu Anhui 68.4

152 Ziyang Sichuan 68.1

153 Shanghai Shanghai 67.9

154 Haozhou Anhui 67.7

155 Jinzhong Shanxi 67.6

156 Jinhua Zhejiang 67.5

157 Jinzhou Liaoning 67.4

158 Huludao Liaoning 67.3

159 Lin'an Zhejiang 67.3

160 Benxi Liaoning 67.2

161 Shaoxing Zhejiang 67.1

162 Yueyang Hunan 67.1

163 Yancheng Jiangsu 67.0

164 Jiaxing Zhejiang 66.9

165 Xiangxizhou Hunan 66.5

166 Pingdu Shandong 66.4

167 Wujiang Jiangsu 66.3

168 Baise Guangxi 66.2

169 Guigang Guangxi 66.1

170 Panjin Liaoning 66.0

171 Yulin Guangxi 65.7

172 Hezhou Guangxi 65.5

173 Qingdao Shandong 65.3

174 Wuwei Gansu 65.2

175 Haidong Qinghai 65.2

176 Akesu Xinjiang 65.0

177 Fuyang Zhejiang 64.9

178 Chongzuo Guangxi 64.7

179 Wuhu Anhui 64.5

180 Mianyang Sichuan 64.5

181 Kunshan Jiangsu 64.2

182 Ku'erle Xinjiang 64.2

183 Chuzhou Anhui 64.0

184 Hegang Heilongjiang 63.6

185 Hechi Guangxi 63.5

186 Zhaoyuan Shandong 63.5

187 Zhongwei Ningxia 63.3

188 Chaoyang Liaoning 63.1

189 Tonghua Jilin 63.1

190 Liupanshui Guizhou 63.1

191 Xinzhou Shanxi 63.0

192 Mudanjiang Heilongjiang 62.8

193 Yangquan Shanxi 62.5

194 Wuhai Inner Mongolia 62.5

195 Yixing Jiangsu 62.3

196 Jincheng Shanxi 62.1

197 Shangluo Shaanxi 61.8

198 Chaozhou Guangdong 61.7

199 Baicheng Jilin 61.6

200 Yiyang Hunan 61.6

201 Nanning Guangxi 61.3

202 Baotou Inner Mongolia 61.3

203 Zunyi Guizhou 61.1

204 Dingxi Gansu 61.0

205 Dandong Liaoning 60.9

206 Ningbo Zhejiang 60.7

207 Fuyang Anhui 60.7

208 Shuangyashan Heilongjiang 60.5

209 Chenzhou Hunan 60.5

210 Wuzhong Ningxia 60.2

211 Bazhong Sichuan 60.2

212 Huangnan Qinghai 59.6

213 Longnan Gansu 59.6

214 Jiuquan Gansu 59.4

215 Yan'an Shaanxi 59.4

216 Qingyang Gansu 59.3

217 Baoshan Yunnan 59.0

218 Xining Qinghai 58.6

219 Jimo Shandong 58.6

220 Taizhou Zhejiang 58.1

221 Huainan Anhui 58.1

222 Xuancheng Anhui 57.7

223 Wenzhou Zhejiang 57.6

224 Jingdezhen Jiangxi 57.5

225 Jiaozhou Shandong 57.4

226 Yantai Shandong 57.2

227 Wujiaqu Xinjiang 57.1

228 Dalian Liaoning 57.1

229 Songyuan Jilin 56.9

230 Lu‘an Anhui 56.8

231 Yinchuan Ningxia 56.8

232 Ya'an Sichuan 56.7

233 Yili Xinjiang 56.3

234 Baiyin Gansu 56.2

235 Zhaoqing Guangdong 56.1

236 Lanzhou Gansu 56.1

237 Jiangmen Guangdong 56.1

238 Lvliang Shanxi 55.9

239 Tongliao Inner Mongolia 55.8

240 Yingkou Liaoning 55.8

241 Guyuan Ningxia 55.8

242 Anqing Anhui 55.8

243 Shizuishan Ningxia 55.6

244 Qinzhou Guangxi 55.5

245 Jiujiang Jiangxi 55.4

246 Guiyang Guizhou 55.1

247 Qingyuan Guangdong 55.1

248 Yanbianzhou Jilin 54.6

249 Chifeng Inner Mongolia 54.5

250 Daqing Heilongjiang 54.1

251 Xishuangbanna Yunnan 54.1

252 Naqu Tibet 53.8

253 Wuzhou Guangxi 53.5

254 Lishui Zhejiang 53.2

255 Quzhou Zhejiang 53.0

256 Suihua Heilongjiang 53.0

257 Hami Xinjiang 52.7

258 Wenshan Yunnan 52.4

259 Nanchang Jiangxi 52.1

260 Fuzhou Jiangxi 52.1

261 Chengde Hebei 51.8

262 Bayannaoer Inner Mongolia 51.8

263 Honghe Yunnan 51.7

264 Rushan Shandong 51.6

265 Jieyang Guangdong 51.2

266 Penglai Shandong 51.2

267 Fuxin Liaoning 50.5

268 Guangzhou Guangdong 50.5

269 Datong Shanxi 50.5

270 Beihai Guangxi 50.0

271 Pu'er Yunnan 50.0

272 Yingtan Jiangxi 49.8

273 Maoming Guangdong 49.6

274 Zhuhai Guangdong 49.6

275 Foshan Guangdong 49.4

276 Huhhot Inner Mongolia 49.4

277 Hainan Qinghai 49.4

278 Dongguan Guangdong 49.3

279 Bijie Guizhou 49.3

280 Zhaotong Yunnan 48.6

281 Jinchang Gansu 48.5

282 Fangchenggang Guangxi 48.4

283 Wendeng Shandong 48.2

284 Yulin Shaanxi 48.1

285 Wulanchabu Inner Mongolia 48.1

286 Lincang Yunnan 46.9

287 Shantou Guangdong 46.8

288 Meizhou Guangdong 46.4

289 Kelamayi Xinjiang 46.2

290 Zhongshan Guangdong 46.2

291 Zhangzhou Fujian 45.4

292 Qiqiha'er Heilongjiang 45.3

293 Yangjiang Guangdong 45.3

294 Xing'an Inner Mongolia 45.3

295 Ji'an Jiangxi 45.2

296 Huangshan Anhui 45.1

297 Xinyu Jiangxi 45.0

298 Jiamusi Heilongjiang 44.9

299 Heyuan Guangdong 44.9

300 Weihai Shandong 44.8

301 Haibei Qinghai 44.7

302 Haixi Qinghai 44.6

303 Ganzhou Jiangxi 44.5

304 Yichun Jiangxi 44.4

305 Shangrao Jiangxi 44.2

306 Tongren Guizhou 44.1

307 Rongcheng Shandong 43.6

308 Shenzhen Guangdong 43.1

309 Yunfu Guangdong 43.1

310 Shanwei Guangdong 42.8

311 Chizhou Anhui 42.7

312 Dali Yunnan 42.6

313 Putian Fujian 42.5

314 Shaoguan Guangdong 42.2

315 Dehongzhou Yunnan 41.8

316 Xiamen Fujian 41.0

317 Panzhihua Sichuan 40.4

318 Fuzhou Fujian 40.4

319 Sanming Fujian 39.6

320 Zhoushan Zhejiang 39.3

321 Ningde Fujian 39.0

322 Alashan Inner Mongolia 38.7

323 Qiandongnan Guizhou 38.2

324 Jiayuguan Gansu 38.2

325 Nanping Fujian 37.6

326 Quanzhou Fujian 36.7

327 Longyan Fujian 36.7

328 Zhanjiang Guangdong 36.7

329 Zhangjiakou Hebei 35.6

330 Kunming Yunnan 35.0

331 Nujiang Yunnan 34.5

332 Qujing Yunnan 34.1

333 Anshun Guizhou 33.7

334 Heihe Heilongjiang 33.4

335 Huizhou Guangdong 33.3

336 Guangyuan Sichuan 32.7

337 Liangshanzhou Sichuan 32.1

338 Yuxi Yunnan 31.7

339 Ordos Inner Mongolia 31.7

340 Haikou Hainan 31.3

341 Chuxiong Yunnan 30.0

342 Changdu Tibet 29.7

343 Yushu Qinghai 29.0

344 Yichun Heilongjiang 28.7

345 Qianxinan Guizhou 27.6

346 Daxing'anling Heilongjiang 27.2

347 Rikaze Tibet 26.7

348 Tacheng Xinjiang 25.9

349 Sanya Hainan 25.5

350 Xilinguole Inner Mongolia 23.6

351 Shannan Tibet 23.0

352 Jixi Heilongjiang 21.9

353 Lasa Tibet 21.5

354 Qiannan Guizhou 20.4

355 Ali Tibet 19.1

356 Diqing Yunnan 18.1

357 Abazhou Sichuan 17.1

358 Aletai Xinjiang 16.5

359 Lijiang Yunnan 14.6

360 Linzhi Tibet 13.1