Artist makes toxic bricks as Beijing issues pollution "Red Alert"

BEIJING, CHINA — Much of China's capital is shut down again today after Beijing issued its first ever "Red Alert" for air pollution.

The smog contains toxins measuring ten times higher than recommended levels.  Driving is restricted and schools are closed.  To illustrate how polluted the air is, one artist has started vacuuming the tiny toxic particles and making them into bricks.

"Some people think this is ridiculous to vacuum dust in the air," says Brother Nut, "Air pollution is a problem for everyone.  And now, we're being deprived of our right to breathe fresh air."

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Known as Brother Nut, he has spent 100 days walking the streets of Beijing with his vacuum.  The small particles in the air are 30 times smaller than a strand of human hair and made up of everything from soot to arsenic and lead.

"They can go right inside our lungs, right into the blood stream," says Tristan Evely from International SOS, "Asthma, chronic obstructed airways disease, and even things like heart attacks because the pollution can trigger that as well."

Brother Nut takes the contents of the vacuum and compresses it into a mold.  A brick made of deadly air pollution.

He says someone offered  $1600 to buy one brick, but it's not for sale.  He says the goal was not about making a profit, but about raising awareness by putting pollution in the palm of your hand.

WPXI