China's Politics Aren't Only Thing That's Toxic

Beijingers were warned to stay indoors on Thursday as pollution levels across the capital hit the top of the scale, despite repeated assurances by the government that air quality was improving.

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"This is as bad as it can get," a spokeswoman for the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau told AFP.

"Level five is the worst level of air pollution. This is as bad as it has been all year."

According to the bureau's website, 15 out of the 16 pollution monitoring stations in urban Beijing registered a "five" for air quality rating.

The main pollutant was suspended particulate matter, which is usually attributed to coal burning and automotive exhaust.

"Old people and young children should reduce outdoor activities and protect their health," the spokeswoman said.

The Beijing Evening News warned residents not to do their morning exercises on Friday as pollution levels were likely to linger over the capital until a cold front moved in and blew some of the bad air away later in the day.

All those pollutants don't stay in China. They end up spreading all the way around the world. They help contribute to hazy skies downwind, which includes the United States mainland.

Yet, the environmentalists are more than willing to ignore this and demand that the West - especially the US - cut back on its emissions, which are far less toxic and are now in smaller quantities than China.