More than 110 companies in northeastern China that failed to reduce pollution will be severely¹ penalized² by the government, the national environmental watchdog said on Thursday.

周四，国家环境监察局表示，东北110余家公司由于没有减少污染排放，将受到政府的严厉处罚。

Three of the companies failed to cut their production under the emergency response ordered after severe haze³ hit the region.

在地区发布重度雾霾预警后，仍有三家公司没有及时减少其污染排放量。

This was disclosed on Thursday by Zou Shoumin, head of the Environmental Inspection⁴ Bureau under the Ministry⁵ of Environmental Protection.

周四，环境保卫部环境监察局局长邹首民发布此消息。

"We found that small and private companies had more problems than these three firms and that 15 companies out of the total failed to control air pollution emissions⁶ while providing heating services because they lacked facilities," Zou said.

邹首民说：“我们发现小型公司和私企的问题比这三家公司的问题还要多，有15家公司因为在供暖时缺乏设备，无法控制污染排放量。”

Another 100 small companies in Fushun, Liaoning province, were found to have discharged pollutants⁷ directly, worsening air quality, Zou said, adding that such heavy polluters will be severely penalized.

邹首民认为，辽宁省抚顺市有100余家小公司直接排放污染物，加剧了空气质量恶化，这种行为必须得到严惩。

The ministry has carried out inspections⁸ in recent days in the three northeastern provinces－Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, which have seen severe smog.

最近，环境部对东北三省——黑龙江、吉林和辽宁展开了调查。这三个省的污染最为严重。

"The inspections will continue, with tougher penalties to deter⁹ polluters and improve air quality," Zou said.

邹首民说：“调查会持续展开，我们会加重处罚措施，提高空气质量。”

Air quality has improved in the three northeastern provinces since they tightened¹⁰ supervision¹¹ on Saturday of major sources of pollution, such as industrial production and vehicle manufacturing.

自从周六实行严格检查工厂和汽车制造业排放量之后，东北三省空气质量有所提高。

As of 10 am on Thursday, the number of cities with severe air pollution had fallen to 12 from 24 on Saturday, the ministry said.

周六，环保部称，10点左右是空气污染最严重的时候。这周四上午10点钟的污染指数从24降到12。

Luo Yi, head of the Environ-mental Monitoring Department at the ministry, said air pollution will continue for a day in the northeast before easing gradually from hazardous¹² levels to a light level because of slight rainfall.

环保监测部门的负责人罗伊表示，由于小幅降雨，东北地区从重度污染降低为轻微污染。

Residents of most areas in the three northeastern provinces may see good air quality by Tuesday, Luo said.

罗伊认为，东北三省的大部分地区居民在周二就可以感受到良好的空气质量。

In addition to the north-east, many cities in northern China, including Beijing and Tianjin, have been blanketed by severe smog for three days.

除了东北地区，中国的许多北部城市包括北京和天津都遭受了为期三天的严重污染。

Beijing saw readings of PM2.5 reach 230 micrograms per cubic meter as of 6 pm on Thursday. The national safety level is 75 micrograms.

周四晚间六点，北京的PM2.5数值达到了230微克每立方米。然而中国的安全数值为75微克每立方米。

With rain forecast, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will also see the haze ease, with pollution expected to disperse¹³ by Tuesday, according to the ministry.

根据环保部的信息，由于降雨，北京天津河北地区的雾霾将会得到缓解。预计下周二污染将会有所降低。