How is China’s Pollution Problem Affecting International Students?

Despite the fact that Chinese is one of the most widely adopted languages on the planet, the latest research shows that in the 2012-2013 school year, the number of students studying the dialect on Chinese shores dropped by 3.2%. According to industry analysts this is partly due to alarmingly high levels of air pollution.

Drawing on data from the Institute of International Education, international news agency Reuters revealed that during the period just 14,413 American students chose to study Chinese in China. This is in spite of the fact that overall, the number of US students studying abroad was higher than the previous year’s figures.

US students snub China’s polluted air

Every year Chinese residents fall victim to countless fatalities caused by air pollution. In the face of rapid urbanisation during an extremely short period of time, its cities have quite literally been left gasping for fresh air. While there are government strategies in place to combat air pollution, as well as plenty of action from the local population, the fact is that at the moment urban China simply isn’t a healthy place to be. US students appear to be well aware of this fact and are changing their behaviour accordingly. As well as dubious job opportunities, the Reuters report also suggested that China’s infamously polluted air played a key role in putting students off studying in the People’s Republic. Upon arriving in China a myriad of students have reported feeling ill, nauseous and exhausted. Headaches and shortness of breath were common, as were frequent attacks for asthma sufferers.

China falls short of AQI standards

Across the globe, the universally recognised Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure the cleanliness of air at a particular point in time. The scale ranges from 0 to 500, with higher ratings representing higher levels of pollution. Today, anything above 100 is considered unhealthy, while environments with AQI rating of 300 or more are considered downright hazardous. In America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the nation’s AQI rarely exceeds 200. However in China, AQI ratings found to be above 200 on a regular basis.

Combating air pollution and winning over students

So what’s being done to reverse the trend? As well as the government rolling out rigorous air quality regimes, some education institutions are taking matters into their own hands. For example, the study abroad program at NYU Shanghai is equipped with an air filter system as well as air purifiers in the halls. Students are also offered access to N95 masks in a bid to minimise the levels of pollution breathed into the lungs. Will it be enough to save China’s international student population? Only time will tell whether or not US students start returning.

To find out more about the current pollution levels in China, read our article Air Pollution in China Today.