Beijing: Acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide spewed from factories and power plants affected a third of China's vast land mass last year, posing a threat to food safety, Xinhua news agency said citing a parliamentary report.
More than half of the 696 cities and counties monitored had suffered acid rain, in some cases on a daily basis, according to a pollution inspection report submitted to the standing committee of parliament, the official agency said.
"Increased sulphur dioxide emissions meant that one third of China's territory was affected by acid rain, posing a major threat to soil and food safety," Xinhua cited NPC standing committee vice-chairman Sheng Huaren as saying.
Discharge of sulphur dioxide in booming China rose by 27 per cent between 2000 and 2005 to 25 million tonnes, making the country the world's top emitter of the pollutant.
Sheng told lawmakers that China's sulphur dioxide emissions, caused largely by coal-burning power stations and coking plants, were double the acceptable environmental limit.
According to the report's findings, nearly 650 out of 680 coking plants in Shanxi, the country's main coal-mining province, discharged excessive sulphur dioxide, Xinhua said.
Air pollution, caused mainly by sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, was affecting 40 per cent of Chinese cities, Sheng said.
China has pledged to install desulphurisation facilities in coal-burning power plants and is planning pilot emissions trading schemes to help improve air quality.
Beijing has promised to replace its notorious smog with clear skies in time for the 2008 Olympics. Sheng also lifted the lid on false reporting of solid waste discharge levels by local governments and companies.
