Environmental authorities in Tianjin's Binhai New Area have stepped up their monitoring of exhaust emissions in a region known for petroleum refining as part of their efforts to improve regional air quality.

Liu Enlin, deputy director of the Binhai environmental protection bureau, a State-level development zone in Tianjin, said his office is working on a tailor-made air quality improvement plan that includes monitoring airborne pollutants in areas where heavy industries such as oil refineries are concentrated.

"We hope the data can help us assess whether these companies can potentially raise environmental risks and then work out a solution to improve them," he said.