The everlasting smog plaguing Chinese cities such as Beijing and Baoding doesn't only contain toxic particulates such as carbon monoxide emitted by burning coal and gasoline.

It's also infested with harmful biological molecules and microbes that make it more dangerous to humans.

Like Us on Facebook

Gu Weidong, vice president of China Energy Society, said the presence of harmful and possibly pathogenic microbes is what makes Chinese pollution different from pollution around the world.

 He believes the serious pollution of China's countryside, rural areas and water supplies contribute to the serious smog problem. But what's unique about China's smog problem is that it isn't the direct result of pollutant emissions, he told the China Business News report.

He said research has shown China's smog problem is directly linked to water and soil pollution that has given rise to the proliferation of microbes.

Gu pointed out that Beijing is surrounded by more than 2,000 garbage dumps and the amount of garbage is increasing by eight percent to 10 percent every year.

The rapid formation and spread of toxic smog is related to the rapid proliferation of microbes, according to research cited by Gu.

It's generally held that weak winds, high humidity and temperature inversions cause smog, but Gu said efforts to solve the smog problem shouldn't dwell on these factors but should also analyze the unique problem posed by microbe infested smog.

Only eight out of China's 74 biggest cities passed the government's basic air quality standards in 2014, Beijing reported.

The most polluted cities were in north-eastern Hebei, the province that surrounds the capital Beijing. Beijing and Shanghai both failed the test, which was based on measurements of major pollutants. The northern industrial city of Baoding has the dirtiest air in China while the most polluted cities were in Hebei province where Beijing is located.

China is attempting to cut pollution but still relies heavily on coal for its energy needs.