Quantifying public health benefits of environmental strategy of PM2.5 air quality management in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, China

In 2013,China issued "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan(Action Plan)" to improve air quality.To assess the benefits of this program in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region,where the density of population and emissions vary greatly,we simulated the air quality benefit based on Ben MAP to satisfy the Action Plan.In this study,we estimate PM_(2.5) concentration using Voronoi spatial interpolation method on a grid with a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 km~2.Combined with the exposure-response function between PM_(2.5) concentration and health endpoints,health effects of PM_(2.5) exposure are analyzed.The economic loss is assessed by using the willingness to pay(WTP) method and human capital(HC) method.When the PM_(2.5) concentration falls by 25% in BTH and reached 60 μg/m~3 in Beijing,the avoiding deaths will be in the range of 3175 to 14051 based on different functions each year.Of the estimated mortality attributable to all causes,3117 annual deaths were due to lung cancer,1924 – 6318 annual deaths were due to cardiovascular,and343 – 1697 annual deaths were due to respiratory.Based on WTP,the estimated monetary values for the avoided cases of all cause mortality,cardiovascular mortality,respiratory mortality and lung cancer ranged from 1110 to 29632,673 to 13325,120 to 3579,1091 to 6574 million yuan,respectively.Based on HC,the corresponding values for the avoided cases of these four mortalities were 267 to 1178,161 to 529,29 to 143 and 261 million yuan,respectively.     

GIS-based analysis of population exposure to PM2.5 air pollution—A case study of Beijing

PM_(2.5), formally defined as particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm, is one of most harmful air pollutants threatening human health. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that both short-term and long-term exposures to PM_(2.5) are strongly linked with respiratory diseases. In this study, various types of spatio-temporal data were collected and used to estimate the spatio-temporal variation of PM_(2.5) exposure in Beijing in 2014. The seasonal and daily variation of the population-weighted exposure level(PWEL) in 2014 was estimated and compared. The results show that the population exposure to ambient air pollution differs significantly in the four seasons, and the exposure levels in winter and spring are notably higher than the other seasons; the exposure level changes greatly from North to South, and each sub-district maintains similarity to neighboring sub-districts.     

Are current Chinese national ambient air quality standards on 24-hour averages for particulate matter sufficient to protect public health?

With rapid economic development and urbanization in recent decades, China has experienced the worsening of ambient air quality. For better air quality management to protect human health, Chinese government revised national ambient air quality standards(NAAQS) for particulate matter(PM) in 2012(GB3095-2012). To assess the effectiveness of current NAAQS for PM on public health in Chinese population, we conducted a metaanalysis on published studies examining the mortality risk of short-term exposure to PM with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 and 2.5 μm(PM_(10) and PM_(2.5)) in China. The reported24-hour concentrations of PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) in studies ranged from 43.5 to 150.1 μg/m~3 and 37.5 to 176.7 μg/m~3. In the pooled excess, mortality risk estimates of short-term exposure to PM.In specific, per 10 μg/m~3 increase in PM_(10), we observed increases of 0.40%(95%CI: 0.33%,0.47%), 0.57%(95%CI: 0.44%, 0.70%) and 0.49%(95%CI: 0.40%, 0.58%) in total, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality, per 10 μg/m~3 increase in PM_(2.5), we observed increases of 0.51%(95%CI: 0.38%, 0.63%), 0.62%(95%CI: 0.52%, 0.73%) and 0.75%(95%CI: 0.54%, 0.95%) in total,respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Finally, we derived 125 μg/m~3 for PM_(10) and 62.5 μg/m~3 for PM_(2.5) as 24-hour recommendation values based on the pooled estimates. Our results indicated that current Chinese NAAQS for PM could be sufficient in mitigating the excess mortality risk from short-term exposure to ambient PM. However, future research on longterm exposure cohort studies in Chinese population is also essential in revising annual averages for PM in Chinese NAAQS.     

Air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the Yangtze River Delta region during 2014–2016

With rapid economic growth and urbanization, the Yangtze River Delta(YRD) region in China has experienced serious air pollution challenges. In this study, we analyzed the air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the YRD region during 2014–2016. In recent years, the concentrations of all air pollutants, except O_3,decreased. Spatially, the PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, and CO concentrations were higher in the northern YRD region, and NO_2 and O_3 were higher in the central YRD region. Based on the number of non-attainment days(i.e., days with air quality index greater than 100), PM_(2.5) was the largest contributor to air pollution in the YRD region, followed by O_3, PM_(10), and NO_2.However, particulate matter pollution has declined gradually, while O_3 pollution worsened.Meteorological conditions mainly influenced day-to-day variations in pollutant concentrations. PM_(2.5) concentration was inversely related to wind speed, while O_3 concentration was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with relative humidity.The air quality improvement in recent years was mainly attributed to emission reductions.During 2014–2016, PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, NO_x, CO, NH_3, and volatile organic compound(VOC)emissions in the YRD region were reduced by 26.3%, 29.2%, 32.4%, 8.1%, 15.9%, 4.5%, and0.3%, respectively. Regional transport also contributed to the air pollution. During regional haze periods, pollutants from North China and East China aggravated the pollution in the YRD region. Our findings suggest that emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control helped to improve the air quality in the YRD region.     

Comprehensive evaluation method of urban air quality statistics based on environmental monitoring data and its application

Air quality monitoring is effective for timely understanding of the current air quality status of a region or city. Currently, the huge volume of environmental monitoring data, which has reasonable real-time performance, provides strong support for in-depth analysis of air pollution characteristics and causes. However, in the era of big data, to meet current demands for fine management of the atmospheric environment, it is important to explore the characteristics and causes of air pollution from multiple aspects for comprehensive and scientific evaluation of air quality. This study reviewed and summarized air quality evaluation methods on the basis of environmental monitoring data statistics during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and evaluated the level of air pollution in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and its surrounding areas (i.e., the “2+26” region) during the period of the three-year action plan to fight air pollution. We suggest that air quality should be comprehensively, deeply, and scientifically evaluated from the aspects of air pollution characteristics, causes, and influences of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic emissions. It is also suggested that a three-year moving average be introduced as one of the evaluation indexes of long-term change of pollutants. Additionally, both temporal and spatial differences should be considered when removing confounding meteorological factors.     

Exposure to air pollutants in Vietnam: Assessing potential risk for tourists

Tourism can form an important component of a nation's GDP,and Vietnam is among the most visited countries in Southeast Asia.Most studies on personal exposure focus on the general population,or occupational cohorts with exposure to specific pollutants.However,short-term exposure to air pollutants while visiting regions with high levels of air pollution can lead to acute health effects.A personal exposure study was conducted across three cities in Vietnam to estimate exposure to particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) and black carbon for tourists.Measurements were conducted during the wet season in 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City,Da Lat and Nha Trang using portable instrumentation.Average 24-hr PM_(2.5) and BC exposures were estimated as 18.9 ± 9.24 and 3.41 ± 1.33 μg/m~3 and among the three cities,Ho Chi Minh was found to have the highest PM_(2.5) concentrations.Environmental tobacco smoke,commuting and street food stands were found to contribute to highest levels of exposure to PM_(2.5) and BC across all cities.     

Urban air quality, meteorology and traffic linkages: Evidence from a sixteen-day particulate matter pollution event in December 2015, Beijing

A heavy 16-day pollution episode occurred in Beijing from December 19, 2015 to January 3,2016. The mean daily AQI and PM_(2.5) were 240.44 and 203.6 μg/m~3. We analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of air pollutants, meteorology and road space speed during this period, then extended to reveal the combined effects of traffic restrictions and meteorology on urban air quality with observational data and a multivariate mutual information model. Results of spatiotemporal analysis showed that five pollution stages were identified with remarkable variation patterns based on evolution of PM_(2.5) concentration and weather conditions. Southern sites(DX, YDM and DS) experienced heavier pollution than northern ones(DL, CP and WL). Stage P2 exhibited combined functions of meteorology and traffic restrictions which were delayed peak-clipping effects on PM_(2.5).Mutual information values of Air quality–Traffic–Meteorology(ATM–MI) revealed that additive functions of traffic restrictions, suitable relative humidity and temperature were more effective on the removal of fine particles and CO than NO_2.     

An economic assessment of the health effects and crop yield losses caused by air pollution in mainland China

Air pollution is severe in China, and pollutants such as PM_(2.5) and surface O_3 may cause major damage to human health and crops, respectively. Few studies have considered the health effects of PM_(2.5) or the loss of crop yields due to surface O_3 using model-simulated air pollution data in China. We used gridded outputs from the WRF-Chem model, high resolution population data, and crop yield data to evaluate the effects on human health and crop yield in mainland China. Our results showed that outdoor PM_(2.5) pollution was responsible for 1.70–1.99 million cases of all-cause mortality in 2006. The economic costs of these health effects were estimated to be 151.1–176.9 billion USD, of which 90% were attributed to mortality. The estimated crop yield losses for wheat, rice, maize, and soybean were approximately 9, 4.6, 0.44, and 0.34 million tons, respectively, resulting in economic losses of 3.4 billion USD. The total economic losses due to ambient air pollution were estimated to be 154.5–180.3 billion USD, accounting for approximately 5.7%–6.6% of the total GDP of China in 2006. Our results show that both population health and staple crop yields in China have been significantly affected by exposure to air pollution. Measures should be taken to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and mitigate the economic loss.     

Comparisons of two serious air pollution episodes in winter and summer in Beijing

Characteristics of two serious air pollution episodes(9–15 January, as the winter case; and30 June to 1 July, as the summer case), which occurred in Beijing in 2013 were investigated and compared using multi-method observations and numerical simulations. During these two air pollution episodes, PM_(2.5) concentrations varied significantly within Beijing, with PM_(2.5) concentrations in southern parts of Beijing being significantly higher than in northern areas. Typically, heavy air pollution episodes begin in the southern parts and disperse towards the northern parts of Beijing. Clearly, synoptic patterns and the stability of atmospheric circulation patterns were the main factors controlling air pollution in Beijing.During the winter case, a warm center above 900 h Pa occurred over Beijing. Meanwhile, in the summer case, although there was only a weak inversion, the convective inhibition energy was strong(over 200 J/k G). This clearly influenced the duration of the air pollution event. Except for the local accumulation and secondary atmospheric reactions in both cases, regional straw burnings contributed a lot to the PM_(2.5) concentrations in summer case.Using the CAMxmodel, we established that regional transport contributed almost 59% to the PM_(2.5) averaged concentration in Beijing in the winter case, but only 31% in the summer case. Thus, the winter case was a typical regional air pollution episode, while the summer case resulted from local accumulation straw burnings transportation and strong secondary atmospheric reactions. Given that air pollution is a regional problem in China, consistent and simultaneous implementation of regional prevention and control strategies is necessary to improve regional air quality.     

地下水曝气技术气流模拟实验研究

利用三维模拟槽研究了地下水曝气技术(AS)使用过程中,含水层介质粒径、曝气压力与影响半径(ROI)、气体流量、气流流型之间的关系.结果表明:曝气过程中ROI随曝气压力的上升而增大;气流质量流量随曝气压力的增加而增大,压力较大时二者呈线性关系;气流流型由介质粒径决定,与曝气压力无关.介质粒径为1~2mm时气流呈倒圆锥形,介质粒径为4~8mm时气流呈抛物线形.     

全国空气资源评估及其与空气质量相关性分析

利用WRF耦合CALMET模式对大气环境系统进行解析,计算全国范围36 km×36 km分辨率通风扩散系数分布,作为空气资源禀赋评估的依据.评估结果表明,全国区域空气资源禀赋整体呈现东低西高,南低北高,内陆闭塞区低,沿海平原地区高的分布趋势.同时,存在三大空气资源禀赋优质区,一是位于河北与山西交界处的太行山脉和东北三省的长白山区域,二是位于西北部青海、新疆和西藏三省交界的昆仑山脉和唐古拉山脉区域,三是位于山东半岛、长三角和珠三角区域的沿海蓝色经济带区域.在此基础上,采用CALPUFF模型,结合观测数据,选取重点城市定量测算空气资源禀赋空间分布的差异性对城市空气质量的影响.以北京为参照,空气资源禀赋对成都、上海、青岛、郑州、广州等各城市群空气质量改善的相对影响程度分别为0.2%、13.2%、25.9%、29.1%和39.4%.     

Intercontinental transport of air pollution

There is an increasing interest on the intercontinental transport of air pollution among the three main emission regions at northern mid-latitudes: North America, Europe, and East Asia. Air pollutants with sufficient long lifetime can be transported from one continent to another. Observations from ground sites, aircraft and satellites have demonstrated this intercontinental-scale transport of air pollutants in the free troposphere. Numerical models have been applied to understand the pathways of the transport and the impact of intercontinental pollution transport. This paper reviews current observational evidence and modeling studies of intercontinental transport of ozone and its precursors, and the resulting impacts on air quality.     

岳麓山空气负离子及空气质量变化研究

采用空气离子测量仪,于2003年10月～2004年9月对岳麓山及其周围地区的空气正、负离子浓度进行了测量,并用相应的方法对其空气质量作了评价.结果表明,岳麓山正、负离子之比的单极系数q值较小,空气离子评价系数CI值均大于0.7,空气质量良好;空气负离子浓度的垂直变化明显,山体中部明显高于山顶和山麓地带,且非核心景区高于核心景区;空气负离子浓度和空气质量1月最低,9月最高,夏、秋两季相当,春季好于冬季;空气负离子浓度的日变化规律(6:00～19:00)为清晨和中午低,上午和傍晚高,一天中存在2个峰值;下雨后空气负离子浓度和空气质量要好于下雨前,两者差异显著.而晴天空气负离子和空气质量要略好于阴天,但两者差别不明显;不同功能区空气负离子浓度和空气质量差异显著,其大小依次为:风景区＞大公园＞小公园＞商业区＞一般交通线＞交通干线＞汽车站.     

Effectiveness of national air pollution control policies on the air quality in metropolitan areas of China

Understanding the effectiveness of national air pollution controls is important for control policy design to improve the future air quality in China. This study evaluated the effectiveness of major national control policies implemented recently in China through a modeling analysis. The sulfur dioxide （SO2） control policy during the llth Five Year Plan period （2006-2010） had succeeded in reducing the national SO2 emission in 2010 by 14% from its 2005 level, which correspondingly reduced ambient SO2 and sulfate （SO42-） concentrations by 13%-15% and 8%-10% respectively over east China. The nitrogen oxides （NOx） control policy during the 12th Five Year Plan period （2011-2015） targets the reduction of the national NOx emission in 2015 by 10% on the basis of 2010. The simulation results suggest that such a reduction in NOx emission will reduce the ambient nitrogen dioxide （NO2）, nitrate （NO3-）, 1-hr maxima ozone （03） concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 8%, 3%-14%, 2% and 2%--4%, respectively over east China. The application of new emission standards for power plants will further reduce the NO2, NO3-, 1-hr maxima 03 concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 2%-4%, 1%-%, 0-2% and 1%-2%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the inter-provincial impacts of emission reduction in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta, which indicated the need to implement joint regional air pollution control.     

Efectiveness of national air pollution control policies on the air quality in metropolitan areas of China

Understanding the efectiveness of national air pollution controls is important for control policy design to improve the future air quality in China. This study evaluated the efectiveness of major national control policies implemented recently in China through a modeling analysis. The sulfur dioxide(SO2) control policy during the 11th Five Year Plan period(2006–2010) had succeeded in reducing the national SO2emission in 2010 by 14% from its 2005 level, which correspondingly reduced ambient SO2and sulfate(SO4 2) concentrations by 13%–15% and 8%–10% respectively over east China. The nitrogen oxides(NOx) control policy during the 12th Five Year Plan period(2011–2015) targets the reduction of the national NOx emission in 2015 by 10% on the basis of 2010. The simulation results suggest that such a reduction in NOx emission will reduce the ambient nitrogen dioxide(NO2), nitrate(NO3), 1-hr maxima ozone(O3) concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 8%, 3%–14%, 2% and 2%–4%, respectively over east China. The application of new emission standards for power plants will further reduce the NO2, NO3, 1-hr maxima O3concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 2%–4%, 1%–6%, 0–2% and 1%–2%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the inter-provincial impacts of emission reduction in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta, which indicated the need to implement joint regional air pollution control.     

京津冀大气污染传输通道区大气污染时空格局研究

客观理解京津冀大气污染传输通道城市（“2+26”城市）空气污染时空格局对于区域大气污染联合防治具有重要意义.本研究采用遥感数据反演的PM_2.5浓度产品，利用趋势分析法和重心分析法，揭示了京津冀城市大气污染传输通道区2000~2015年大气污染时空格局演化特征.结果表明：（1）区域PM_2.5平均浓度整体呈现出太行山脉区域较低，太行山脉以东较高的格局，城镇地区明显高于周边地区.（2）2000~2015年区域PM_2.5年均浓度总体呈增加趋势，主要表现在2000~2007年，呈显著增加趋势的面积占全区的88.48%，之后呈稳定状态.（3）区域PM_2.5污染重心位于衡水、邢台和德州3市交界处，区域北部大气污染较严重.本研究可为京津冀及周边地区大气污染防治政策制定和措施实施提供参考与支持.     

Status of air pollution in Beijing

A study has been made on elements organic constituents, TSP, SO2,NO2 of atmospheric pollutants in Beijing. 17 elements, and some PAHs, e. g. B(a)P, B(b, j, k)P, and B(g, h, i)P, in airborne particles by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and HPLC, GC/MS, have been determined respectively. It has been shown that the elements Pb, Zn, S and Cu were more enriched in fine particles and different valence states of sulfur at various sites. It was found that the concentrations of S6+ and S2-were more than 85% and less than 15% of the total sulfur respectively. Concentrations of major PAHs and sulfur-containing compounds increased in winter and in urban area. High values for Pb and Zn in city, Fe and Mn at industrial area and Cu, Al rural sites were obtained respectively. This implies the functions of different elemental sources of various sites. Thus, elements can be from distingushed anthropogenic and natural sources.The main contribution of SO2 was found of to have same seasonal variation as the anthropogenic el