Can Skyscraper-Sized Air Purifiers Suck Away China's Pollution?

As the 13th National People’s Congress convened in March 2018 revealed increased financial spending directed towards R&D of pollution-countering technologies, discussions have ensued over possible innovative counter pollution strategies. Following the installment of a 60 meter high air purifier tower in the city of Xi’an, which was built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and promoted as an affordable method for mass-scale air filtration, the general concept has been under greater discussion. While monitoring results of the firstly built, $2 million-expensive air-purifier suggest that the air carried 19% less particulate matter compared to other city parts, doubts have been raised as to their technical soundness and financial as well as environmental costs. Critics have suggested that the environmental impacts of building the air purifier may outweigh their benefits, calling for the need of further assessments. Read more..
© VCG Visual China Group