Monitoring fine airborne particles below 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) will be included newly amended draft of the national air quality standards, according to a statement of the Ministry of Environmental Protection released on its official website Saturday, writes Xinhua.

The new revision was approved in principal at the ministry's executive meeting presided by the minister Zhou Shengxian on Friday 30 December.

The meeting urged the relevant departments to further revise and improve the new standards as soon as possible.

Currently, China uses PM10, or particular matter under 10 micrometers, to measure air quality. The PM2.5 particles are considered extremely hazardous to people's health as they go deeper into the lungs than the larger particles that exist in the air.

Source: Xinhua