A group of Chinese media and public intellectuals on Sunday called on the China federal government to modify the present standards used in monitoring Beijing's air pollution.

At present, countries worldwide are using the PM2.5 measurement to check air quality. China's Beijing meteorological authorities, however, are still using the PM10 standard.

PM2.5 gauges the finest particles in air while PM10 measures only coarser particles.

In a public voting initiated by Chinese real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi, 95 per cent of the more than 21,203 respondents said Beijing's meteorological authorities should adopt the PM2.5 measure "this year." Four per percent believed "it can wait until next year" while 1 percent opted said "there is no need for PM2.5 measurement."

The debate on the PM2.5 and PM10 first started when air quality monitoring results released by Beijing's weather forecast station differed with those released by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. It was later found that the two institutions were using different measurements.

Recently, state broadcaster Central China Television aired a program urging the immediate adoption of the PM2.5 measurement to track Beijing's air quality, saying fine particles are far more dangerous to human health. Health experts the fine particles in air pollution causes cardiac and respiratory diseases, noting these smallest particles can be inhaled into the respiratory system while coarser particles are already blocked through the nostril.

Beijing's weather forecast station said the air pollution was only minor, while the US Embassy described Beijing's air quality "hazardous" or "dangerous."

"Only when the state issues strong standards, the rules will be enforced by municipalities," said Mr Pan, chairman of SOHO China, one of the largest developers in Beijing.

"And only when people have the knowledge of the air quality around them, will they change unhealthy behaviors."