BEIJING - China's health watchdog has vowed to set up a national network to monitor the impact of air pollution on human health within the coming three to five years.

The goal was revealed in a work plan on air pollution released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Monday.

Under the plan, the network will gather data on the compositions of PM2.5, airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, in different regions and the density changes of main air pollutants, which will provide data support for the analysis and evaluation of their impact on health.

The document noted that the absence of a long-term, systematic monitoring system has prevented the country from uncovering the link between air pollution and human health.

According to the plan, the network will first cover a number of cities in 16 provinces and municipalities where smog is frequent as well as certain villages and towns in rural areas in six provincial-level regions by the year end.

The evaluation will be based on the integrated and long-term analysis of PM2.5 data, weather information and cases of local residents' diseases and deaths, the plan added.