Traffic police in China's smog-covered cities are waiting for authorities to cut the red tape that bars them from wearing protective face masks while on duty.

The recent heavy pollution in north, central and eastern regions has already taken a toll on the health of officers working outside for several hours a day.

About 37 percent of those on duty in Jinan, Shandong province, have caught colds, while almost all complain of sore throats and eye irritation, according to a survey by the city's traffic management bureau.