Airborne fine-particle pollution density in Harbin, the capital of key Chinese farm province Heilongjiang, reached 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter yesterday, or 40 times more than the international safe standard under World Health Organization guidelines, the government-run Shanghai Daily reported today. The 1,000-level readings were the first since China started releasing PM2.5 data last year. PM2.5 levels measure air particles smaller than 2.5 micrograms.

The smell takes the throat. It is not good to walk on the beach of La Gaulette these days. Leftover food, sewage and garbage of all kinds are discharged into the lagoon. With impunity.