From The Daily Telegraph:
Olympics spectators warned over air in Beijing
High levels of air pollution in Beijing could damage the health of many spectators at next years Olympic Games, a leading World Health Organisation expert has warned.
Dr Michal Krzyzanowski, said that air quality was so bad in the Chinese capital that those with a history of heart problems and those suffering from asthma should be aware they could be harmed.
Your correspondent is a 12-year resident of this city. Dr Krzyzanowski’s statements strike me as unscientific, attention-seeking and alarmist.
See also Beijing Newspeak: Pouring scorn on Olympic medical advice
UPDATE: Ex situ journalism
This is taken from the comments section to this post where Ed B clarifies the problem:
Dr Krzyzanowski originally said this in an interview with BBC sport. In its entirety, I found his opinion to be thoughtful, well-balanced and accurate. I put it to you that the Telegraph article’s author, Graeme Baker, has made very selective use of the doctor’s statement and is the one guilty of being unscientific, attention-seeking and alarmist.
There are other issues with the Torygraph article, making it read very much like a remote job. Busses and trains were no more “filled” than normal in the experience of this commuter (who takes both daily). It also claims, implausibly, that the number of city streets is growing by 1,200 a day and later on, that the number of cars increases by the same rate and number. Copy and paste lessons anyone?
Advice on visiting Beijing should indeed come with a health warning. But so too should ex situ journalism.