SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 5 -- A graft investigation has been launched into a senior environmental protection official in north China's polluted Hebei Province, the provincial discipline watchdog said on Friday.

The probe into Li Bao, deputy head of the provincial environmental protection department, will focus on discipline and law violation accusations.

Li has held the post since March 2009.

Hebei, which neighbors Beijing, is often blamed for the notorious choking smog that often seeps into neighboring regions due to it being a center for heavy industry.

The province is taking steps toward limiting its excessive number of iron and steel; glass; and concrete factories to reduce pollution.