But I’m in Anhui now, so I get a reprieve from “worse than hazardous” pollution. “Hazardous” is the highest level on the US Embassy’s pollution rating system, which goes up to 500. The reading for Sunday afternoon, via @BeijingAir:

02-20-2011; 16:00; PM2.5; 526.0; 500; Beyond Index // Ozone; 3.6; 3; Good

That was right after I took off. Most of yesterday (Monday) it was “Beyond Index” in the morning before dropping to the 480s and 490s for the rest of the day. Boyfriend says the sky doesn’t look as bad as it did last October, when the U.S. used its now-famous “crazy bad” description for its off-the-charts reading, but he has trouble breathing just by going outside and the sky is all hazy and stuff. Hope the wind on Thursday will blow it all away before I go home!