Decades of blistering economic growth that have created new opportunities for hundreds of millions of Chinese are creating big problems for the country’s environment — and residents are paying the price.

Industrialization in Beijing has caused levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the city’s air to rise to five times the recommended daily level set by the World Health Organization, according to a Reuters report.

That has resulted in a rather alarming human toll, with more than a quarter million premature deaths in 31 Chinese cities attributed to PM2.5, a bigger killer than smoking, according to a study by Greenpeace and Peking University, which based its findings on 2013 data.

Residents are doing what they can to limit their exposure thanks to lots of available data on air quality. People can monitor pollution with apps that provide updates on PM2.5 levels in the area, using readings from the U.S. embassy or the government. Air purifiers have been selling like hotcakes, with annual growth of 33 percent expected over the next five years. But residents have to pay big bucks to get them, shelling out nearly $600 for a high-end model, which is an average monthly salary in China’s capital city, according to the report.

It’s resulted in some expatriates thinking about bolting from the city, The Reuters report quoted people who had developed rhinitis and asthma during their stay in Beijing as a result of the choking air. Pollution exploded in January 2013 in an event that was known as “airpocalypse,” prompting many to leave and find homes elsewhere — sometimes not a choice for those who have lived in the city all their lives.

However, the calls for change are starting to be heard by the Chinese government, which is starting take measures against pollution. Premier Li Keqiang even told parliament in 2014 that China will “declare war on pollution,” and a new environmental law took effect at the beginning of this year.

Still, the nation has a long way to go in finding a way to balance its economic interests with the health of its populace.