Beijing air quality to be good

BEIJING, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A Chinese scientist says barring a dramatic change between now and Friday, the air quality in Beijing will be "fairly good" at the Olympic Games opening.

Chinese authorities have taken several drastic measures in recent weeks from shutting down factories in and around the capital to severely restricting all vehicular traffic to fight the perennial problem of pollution in Beijing.

Wang Zifa, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' institute of atmospheric physics, said it might rain Wednesday and Thursday, but added that even if the air is humid and still on Friday, the city is unlikely to have heavy pollution, Xinhua reported.

Using a multi-model system, Wang said, "I think the city's comprehensive and strict measures to control pollution have paid off."

The Xinhua report said Beijing's air quality Tuesday was "fairly good" with the average pollution index of 88, slightly higher than Monday's 83.

A pollution reading below 50 is termed as "excellent," 51 to 100 "fairly good," while a reading of over 301 is termed "hazardous," the report said.