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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Light to heavy air pollution is likely to continue in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region until Wednesday due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to China's environment watchdog.
Since Monday, light to moderate air pollution has affected Tianjin Municipality and some cities in northern China's Hebei Province, including Baoding and Tangshan, according to China National Environmental Monitoring Center statistics. Yellow alerts for air pollution have been issued in these regions.
Moderate to heavy air pollution is forecast for central and southern parts of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from Tuesday to Wednesday. Cold air is expected to disperse the smog on Thursday.
Air quality inspection teams dispatched to six polluted Hebei cities by the Ministry of Environmental Protection have found several problems causing pollution, including frequent illegal discharges from coke and steel plants, and a lack of anti-pollution measures in some industries and small enterprises.
The ministry has called for tougher checks and punishments for violations in the region.
