(LI SHIGONG) 

A tower which vacuums up smog en masse has arrived in Beijing. The 7-meter-high tower, designed by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde, is said to be the largest air filter in the world, capable of purifying 30,000 cubic meters of air within one hour. But its function isn't limited to creating clean air—the smog particles it captures can also be made into black sapphire, according to its designer.

The arrival of the tower coincided with several days of heavy air pollution in Beijing during the autumn period. Residents in north China, which is plagued by dense haze, are desperate to eradicate the problem. However, it persists in Beijing, and last year's winter saw the air quality index rise above 250—more than 20 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization—on a number of occasions.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the tower has attracted a tremendous amount of attention. Some people see it as a kind of "performance art"—especially given its location in an artistic community—not so helpful in tackling the problem, but nonetheless a symbol of the fight against pollution. To solve the problem, they say the key is to remove the fundamental causes of smog, such as by reducing emissions and using clean energy. Others, however, see the tower as an example and an inspiration that encourages people to create more advanced scientific and technological means to deal with air pollution.

An inspiring experiment

Cao Hongyan (Economic Daily): The public is curious about the air-purifying tower and its ability to curb smog. As its designer has said, no technique can solve the issue on its own. The inspiration which can be gleaned from the tower is that scientific and technological innovation still has a lot to contribute to the battle against smog.

Innovation does not necessarily involve carrying out difficult programs. In the area of environmental protection, if everybody contributes even a small amount, there will be big progress. Under the increasing threat of air pollution, galvanizing the public and taking advantage of new ideas and wisdom to tackle that challenge are undoubtedly the right step forward.

The tower is an inspiring scientific experiment. We hope that it will encourage more scientific and technical innovation to protect the environment and to help in the war against smog.

A futile attempt

He Yong (www.eastday.com): Although the fight against air pollution is pressing ahead, it remains one of the biggest environmental issues in China. Since the start of autumn this year, Beijing has experienced several periods of days filled with smog—even before the city's central heating systems were put into operation in mid-November. Now, air-purifying towers are under construction as a means to reduce pollution. However, are these towers really capable of denting the problem?

Reportedly, the tower in Beijing's 798 Art District is able to purify 30,000 cubic meters of air per hour and capture at least 75 percent of the hazardous particulate matter contained in the air. For example, if the PM 2.5 (particulates with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) concentration is 200 micrograms per cubic meter, in an hour one tower can absorb 4.5 grams of PM 2.5 particles, equal to less than a spoon of salt. So, many experts suspect that the tower will have no tangible effect on the surrounding environment.

Aside from that, air purifiers are only effective when they operate inside a relatively closed environment, but the tower stands in the open air, limiting its impact. Even if it is able to purify the air around it, a gust of wind would undo its progress. In this sense, this tower, which is hailed as a combination of art and a means to pursue environmental protection, may ultimately serve as a mere warning to people about the dangers of air pollution.

In reality, it would be more effective to reduce air pollution by curbing coal consumption, gas emissions and pollution from construction sites than to pursue the construction of more air-filtering towers.

Jia Xinxin (www.hebgcdy.com): From a technical perspective, the tower can purify only a volume of air equal to that of a football pitch. If we were to rely on it to transform China's air condition, we would require the construction of forests of such towers.

Some people argue that the tower has value since it was introduced to warn and urge people to fight against air pollution. However, the reality is that for many years, the Chinese people have already had enough of smog. People in China don't need to be reminded, by means of this tower, about the need for clean air.

The tower can solve neither the symptoms nor the causes of air pollution, and its function is quite limited. It will prove to be a futile attempt by environmental protection authorities to solve the smog issue. As for the real estate developers who have rushed to construct more such towers, they're using the machine as a gimmick to make their property more attractive to potential clients.

To tackle this environmental issue, the key is to trace the sources of the problem. Coal, petrol and many other fossil fuels power a large part of China's energy demand. In addition, pollutants emitted by factories, cars and residential buildings' central heating systems are also major culprits. To save energy and reduce emissions, limiting the use of coal and encouraging the use of clean energy constitute the optimal solution. The whole of China's society should try to lead a low-carbon life and take good care of the environment. We can't expect to uproot smog overnight, and it's unrealistic to depend on things like air-purifying towers.

Yi Xin (People's Daily): Today, the fact that smog is a result of pollution accumulating in the air is known to everyone. Most people have expressed their anger at those who have caused this pollution, but rarely does anyone ask themselves: "Does it have anything to do with me?" or "What can I do to solve the problem?"

It seems strange to think that ordinary people's daily lives can lead to pollution. However, people's daily activities, including shopping for clothes, eating and traveling, may take up a huge amount of resources and energy, causing emissions and pollution. In this sense, everyone is contributing to the problem. However, a high living standard demands a high-quality environment. Our pursuit of a good life should be turned into a driving force that pushes us forward to cut pollution.

Currently, China still has enormous difficulties in solving environmental pollution. All people in China must work together to tackle this dilemma.

Copyedited by Bryan Michael Galvan

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