Beijing to reveal new pollution rules

China is set to reveal an unprecedented set of new pollution rules in Beijing as deteriorating air quality and record smog levels in the capital became a clear contributor to political dissatisfaction this month, Reuters reported. The new rules, first revealed by state news agency Xinhua, will tighten previous measures including shutting down factories, taking specific vehicle classes off the streets on particularly polluted days and cutting back on coal burning. Air quality in Beijing is well above international health standards for breathability on a regular basis and is increasingly becoming a source of political resentment. Domestic media sources have reported stories describing the expensive air purifiers in government officials’ homes and offices. Elite officials reportedly also pick their vegetables from special organic farms to avoid the risks from recurring food safety scandals.