City officials had earlier said the haze is due to humid weather, not pollution. But state media on Monday suggested Games organisers are also worried and considering bigger pollution cuts.
"More vehicles could go off the roads and all construction sites and some more factories in Beijing and its neighbouring areas could be closed temporarily if the capital's air quality deteriorates during the Olympic Games," the China Daily said.
Xinhua said the air quality in Beijing on Monday was Grade II, which means "fairly good," with the main pollutant being particulate matter. No details were given.
An official in the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau confirmed plans for more cuts are being studied, but declined to give details.
"The measures will be put into place if air quality turns out to be short of the standards we have promised," the official, who would only give his surname Zhang, said by telephone.
Advertisement
