Beijing, May 4 (IANS): Beijing woke up on Thursday to dangerous levels of pollution and low visibility in its urban atmosphere due to a sandstorm that has been affecting the Chinese capital, weather officials said.

The sandstorm, a common phenomenon in northern China each spring due to the proximity of deserts such as the Gobi, caused the PM10 particle level to exceed 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, one of the highest concentrations of the year, Efe news reported.

Also high - although slightly smaller in size (more than 500 micrograms per cubic meter) - is the level of the fine particles PM2.5, which are considered to be the most harmful to health and the main components of smog that plagues the atmosphere of northern China, especially in the winter months.

Authorities in Beijing have issued a blue alert due to the sandstorm, which is also affecting the regions of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

This situation is expected to affect the region until Friday, according to meteorologists.

Given the current levels of pollution, it is recommended that at-risk groups such as children and elderly people do not leave their homes.

For years, the Chinese government has been trying to fight against sandstorms from deserts in the north with massive reforestation programs.