Better air quality cuts into sales of masks, purifiers

Sales of face masks and air purifiers – two of the hottest products last winter – have fallen this year as the air quality in northern China has improved.

In Beijing, the average concentration of PM2.5 – hazardous fine particulate matter – decreased last year by 20.5 percent year-onyear to 58 micrograms per cubic meter. Regions surrounding the capital have also seen improvements in air quality.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection released an action plan in late August and listed detailed targets, controlling measures and punishments in Beijing, Tianjin and 26 cities in the smog-plagued provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Henan and Shanxi.

In November, the average PM2.5 concentration in the 28 cities stood at 68 mcg/cu m, down by 37 percent year-on-year.