The poor air quality in Beijing, China has put people on high alert. The smog covering China’s capital city has led to health and class issues.

The polluted air has caused several deaths to those who do not have enough money to prevent the the smog from getting into their homes. Rising middle class residents and those poorer are financially out of reach of high-tech gadgets that could help find clean air.

“Health issues pose a big problem for populations as it can cause premature deaths and other long-term effects,” said Anita Pan, 11.

According to CNN, research by Nanjing University’s School of the Environment has linked smog with nearly one-third of all deaths in China, putting it along with smoking as a public health threat.

Air pollution has significantly shown division between the rich and the poor. The rich live in cleaner areas of the city and they have many more opportunities to stay safe from the smog.

“As a child, I used to visit my grandparents in Beijing but now the pollution is so bad they have had to live in other cities,” said Grace Deng, 9.

Those who can afford to purchase ventilation systems to help the air pollution install an air filter that costs thousands of dollars.

“I have no idea when my grandparents will return to Beijing but I know it will take a while to fix the pollution problem,” said Deng.

Although China’s economy has been booming in recent years, many people have become frustrated with how the country is dealing with the rich and the poor. They become angry with the rich having the ability to protect themselves and the poor being left to suffer.