China uses drones to catch industrial polluters

Aerial drones have uncovered “serious environmental problems” at sites run by Shanxi Hauze Aluminium & Power and Inner Mongolia Yihua Chemical, Bloomberg reported, citing a statement by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Saturday. Unmanned aircraft with thermal infrared cameras covered 1,000 square kilometers across the regions of Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia from June 16-27. Data gathered by the drones indicate a quarter of the 254 businesses targeted may be involved in illegal practices. China is turning to drones in its ongoing fight against pollution, which has been scaled up this year.