The past week's air pollution monitoring results in Hebei province, Tianjin and Beijing show a significant improvement in air quality compared to last year's pollution level.

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According to data from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the average level of concentration of PM2.5 in Hebei province, Tianjin and Beijing from February 20 to 26, when the said areas were blanketed with smog, was reported to be 1 percent lower than the average PM2.5 concentration reported for the same area during the same time last year.

Peak concentration likewise decreased by 16.4 compared to last year's level, according to the institute's data.

PM2.5 refers to fine particulates of matter suspended in the air measuring less than 2.5 microns, small enough to get lodged in the lungs when inhaled.

"The concentration of pollutants in the smog decreased by 20 to 30 percent in general over the last year," according to Wang Yuesi, a researcher from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Wang gave the report during a forum organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing on Saturday to discuss the reasons for the smog.

The basis of Wang's report was data collected by the institute's 23 pollution monitoring stations spread all over North China.  These stations have been monitoring PM2.5 and other pollutant concentrations across the country. Results collected during the first two months of the current year were compared to results of January 2013 when North China experienced severe pollution for almost a month.

The smog experienced last year and this year occurred during similar climatic conditions, according to Wang.

Wang added that based on the results of their monitoring, the emergency measures adopted have effectively addressed the region's air pollution problem. He however said that the improvement may not be noticeable or detectable by the public because the lowered concentration of PM2.5 still affected visibility.

Wang said that visibility, which was 2 kilometers when smog covered the area, will only be improved once the PM2.5 concentration becomes less than 100 micrograms per cubic meter.  PM2.5 concentration in February was still at 230 micrograms per cubic meter

Coal power stations are the major sources of PM2.5, Wang said.

"The overall area of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei accounts for some 0.05 percent of the world, while this region consumes 11 percent of its coal, so you don't have to use your imagination to understand why we are suffering from air pollution. We are living inside a huge chimney," Wang added.

As a contingency plan, Beijing is forcing nearby plants to cut their production. Wang however said that only long-term solutions will end the pollution problem that besets the area.