Vehicles in China emitted 50 million tonnes of pollutants: Report

BEIJING: Motor vehicles in China emitted 52.27 million tonnes of pollutants in 2010, contributing in a major way to the pollution problems like smog and acid rain, a report released by the ministry of environmental protection said today.

The pollutants included 40.8 million tonnes of carbon monoxide, 5.99 million tonnes of nitrogen oxide, 4.87 million tonnes of hydrocarbon and 598,000 tonnes of particulate matters, said the report titled, 'China Vehicle Emission Control Annual Report (2011)'.

These pollutants are believed to be among the major contributors to the air pollution problems like smog and acid rain frequently occurring in some Chinese cities, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

The ministry will strengthen its emission control work and intensify the administration and supervision of the production and use of vehicles, said the ministry's spokesman Tao Detian.

The report said that from 2006 to 2010, the country's total motor vehicles registered an annual growth rate of about 10% and the total number increased from 118 million to 190 million.

Moreover, the number of cars nationwide jumped from 30.88 million to 77.22 million over the same period, representing a 150% increase, the report said.

Tao said the country's efforts in vehicle emissions control have proved to be effective.

Although the number of motor vehicles increased by 60.9%, the volume of vehicle emissions only rose by 6.4%, he said.