As reported by CGTN TV channel, "smog tasters" are supposed to analyze air samples collected in various regions of the country. Their main task is to determine the source and the degree of air pollution.
Representatives of the center said that despite the existence of modern technologies, none of them is comparable with the human smell in terms of speed and accuracy of determining the air characteristics.
Specialists of this new and rare profession do not wear protective masks to ensure the accuracy of the analysis. For the sake of their job, they also do not eat spicy food, don't apply makeup and don't use perfume.
In March, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the government would undertake a number of measures to combat air pollution in 2017 and "make the skies blue again."
According to a survey conducted by the University of California, a total of 1.6 million people in China die annually from diseases caused by air pollution, which means some 4,000 deaths per day.
