A group of engineers from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp are developing a laser radar device, which can be used to detect micro-sized particles in that air that are harmful to human health, China Daily reported.

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The device, known as SkyLidar, is the first laser radar system to be built in the country and it is expected to enable authorities accurately track chemical pollutants in the atmosphere, including micro-sized matter such as PM2.5.

According to a report published last week, China needs to reduce the presence of PM2.5 and other similar micro pollutants in its atmosphere by about 20 percent to 30 percent in order to stabilize the country's mortality rate, the New York Times reported. Currently, up to 72 percent of the annual deaths from pollution happen in Asian countries - particularly India and China.

Song Yubin, the head of a group of engineers at Beijing Huahang Radio who are designing the laser radar, has noted that the device "can monitor almost everything in the atmosphere that affects our health." He added that the new laser radar device, which is set to hit the market in 2016, has many advantages over the systems being used currently, including the fact that it uses less energy and is smaller.

Experts agree that laser radar technology is one of the most reliable systems for assessing air quality.

Air pollution has long been a major health issue in China and authorities have been taking steps to tackle the problem. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the pollution of the atmosphere with harmful chemicals, such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen, decreased remarkably between 2013 and 2014.

According to Reuters, between February 2014 and 2015, China's demand for coal dropped by about 33.33 percent. While China still relies on coal substantially, experts say the rate at which the country is reducing its coal usage is commendable. Many agree that China' coal consumption may have since peaked.

A recent report by researchers at the London School of Economics revealed that in the first quarter of this year, China's coal consumption continued to decline. The researchers have projected that China may peak by 2025 - five years earlier than the target set by President Xi Jinping last year.

TagsChina Air Pollution, SkyLidar, China laser radar, China PM2.5 air pollution, china air quality