Half of Chinese live in haze: report   

中国四分之一国土现雾霾 近半数国人受影响

2013年初以来，中国发生大范围持续雾霾天气。据统计，受影响雾霾区域包括华北平原、黄淮、江淮、江汉、江南、华南北部等地区，受影响面积约占国土面积的1/4，受影响人口约6亿人。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- About 25 percent of the country's total land, with nearly 600,000 citizens, has been covered with thick haze since this year, according to a report released Thursday.

The report, released on the official website of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner and price watchdog, calls for increased efforts toward energy conservation and pollution reduction.

The report says the smoke lingering in the past several months is severe in terms of range, length and intensity of pollutants. It also says that low-quality growth and an unreasonable economic pattern have resulted in the pollution.

A report by CNN last week says that severe pollution has slashed an average of five and half years from life expectancy in northern China, as toxic air has led to higher rates of stroke, heart disease and cancer.

Liu Zhiquan, an official of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, told reporters that there is lack of sufficient evidence in the world regarding air pollution's impact on life expectancy, although it does have a negative impact on people's health.