As smog fills the air in the Northern Regions of China, a report by the Ministry of Environment released on Monday indicates that there was a fall rather than an increase in the county's smog condition by the end of October.

The Monday report by the ministry indicates that the fact that PM 2.5 levels fell by 12.5 percent to close at 42 micrograms per cubic meter between the months of January and October should not be taken lightly.

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The acceptable level of PM 2.5 in the atmosphere, according to the World Health Organization, is 10 micrograms per cubic meter. This makes China's 42 micrograms per cubic meters way higher than expected.

"Six of the worst performing cities over the first ten months are located in Hebei, the industrial province," the ministry said in its report. "In October alone, smog concentrations in Beijing to Tianjin to Hebei region were worse than the same period last year."

The ministry's report noted that home to the Terracotta Army - Xian City - ironically appeared on the list of top ten of the smoggiest cities in the months of January to October.

Smog usually increases as the weather continues to cool down and the use of indoor coal-fired heating technology increased.

According to Dong Liansai, a climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace, plans need to start being implemented by the various cities to reduce emissions.

"Beijing's government needs to face up to the 2017 goal set by the State Council and design its emission reduction plans for 2018 to 2020 so that they conform to existing goals," Dong said.

Tagschina, China Pollution, smog, Ministry of Environmental Protection, WHO