AKIPRESS.COM - Schools in Beijing are closed and outdoor construction halted after the Chinese capital was issued with its first ever pollution "red alert".

The red alert, the highest possible warning level, began on Tuesday morning and will last until midday on Thursday, said BBC.

Limits have been placed on car use and some factories have been ordered to stop operations. The alert comes as China, the world's largest polluter, takes part in talks on carbon emissions in Paris.

At 07:00 local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT on Monday) , the air pollution monitor operated by the US Embassy in Beijing reported that the intensity of the poisonous, tiny particles of PM 2.5 was at 291.

The World Health Organization considers 25 micrograms per cubic metre to be a safe level.

Coal-powered industries and heating systems, as well as vehicle emissions and dust from construction sites, all contribute to the smog which has been exacerbated by humidity and a lack of wind.

China's CCTV news channel reported at the weekend that some parts of Beijing had visibility of only 200m (660 feet).

The order will last from 07:00 local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT on Monday) until 12:00 on Thursday, when a cold front is expected to arrive and clear the smog.

As well as limits on construction and schools, cars with odd and even number plates will be banned from driving on alternate days.