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This place is polluted beyond belief. I am talking eye-burning, throat-scorching, respiratory-arresting, orange-brown-yellow hands after you hold a handrail. They call it Asian Dust also known as yellow dust. They say it is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon that affects east Asia during the springtime months. It originates in the deserts of Mongolia and northern China where winds kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. It has become a serious problem because of the industrial pollutants contained in the dust. It is laced with sulfur, soot, ash, carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants including heavy metals and other carcinogens. The cherry on top of the toxic pudding is viruses, bacteria, fungi, pesticides, antibiotics, asbestos, herbicides, plastic ingredients, combustion products and hormone mimicking phthalates. We were out 1 day in it and now have sore throats. We are wearing masks, which don't seem to help that much. The food and water are now once again suspect on this trip as is blanketed with this crap. To give you an idea of how bad it is, in the US an air quality index of 200 is unhealthy, 300 is hazardous. Where we are right now is 1334. I am reading now the particulates lodge in your lungs and cause cancer and other illness. I don't know if we are going to stay. I can't wear my contacts because the stuff has absorbed into them. This is like a freaking bad movie. Bringing P2.5 particles home in our lungs is our Chinese souvenir. I cannot believe the rest of the world is not halting trade with China as a lever to get them to deal with this. The sea and the air are putrid beyond what you can imagine.
Sorry China. Without good air to breathe nothing is enjoyable.
From Xi'an 34.2683° N, 108.9419° E.
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Catherine Get that ticket changed and come early to Vietnam!! We are so ready for you!