The view from the NASA Terra satellite shows the intense smog covering Eastern China. Beijing is just inland from the Bay, at the upper middle left of the image.

The PM 2.5 level reached over 310 ppm in Beijing Tuesday, and this level makes the air hazardous to breathe. In the U.S. (and most major countries), a level over 35 ppm is considered unhealthful. In Beijing, schools are closed and severe road restrictions are in force., and you can thank clean coal for the problem. Oh, and just in case you haven’t seen the most disastrous PR spot of all time:

FYI: these tiny PM 2.5 micron particles are too small to be exhaled by the lungs, and overtime can lead to serious health issues. Late word tonight from NBC is that Beijing hospitals have thousands of patients with breathing and other respiratory issues.