People in more than 70 Chinese cities can now get real-time reports on their local air quality as nearly 500 new monitoring stations nationwide have started collecting data on sulfur dioxide, ozone, PM2.5 and other particles.

Experts say the move to include fine particles as small as 2.5 microns and ozone will help improve the air quality monitoring system and allow residents to better assess the risks they face.

In recent years the public has demanded air quality reports include PM2.5 readings, as smaller particles are considered more hazardous as they are more difficult for the lungs to expel.

The number of monitoring stations nationwide now stands at more than 1,400, twice as many as there were in 2010.

 A government report issued in the first half of 2012 indicated that air quality in 33 cities failed to meet national standards, a reduction from 45 the previous year.

Global Times - Agencies