Beijing's health authority plans to establish an air quality monitoring system in schools, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

It will be the first time for the city to monitor PM2.5 particulate matter in public places.

A total of 10 surveillance sites, including two outdoor classrooms and eight inside, will be set up in two pilot schools in Xicheng district and Chaoyang district.

The pilot project will last a year. Authorities said it aims to establish PM2.5 limits indoors, which will determine whether students should have physical exercise inside or outside when heavy smog wreathes the city.

In addition, the sites will monitor concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and PM10, as well as quantities of bacteria and legionella pneumophila in the air.