At the end of July, China's Environment Protection Ministry released a report on air quality in the first half of this year. According to the report, except four cities, namely Lhasa, Haikou, Zhoushan and Huizhou, no other major city in the country is up to the standard of air quality. Growing motor vehicles and industrial output are among a variety of factors contributing to this consequence. Worsening air pollution composes a serious threat to the health of the public. An official said a scheme to control air pollution would be published within the year.