The acute effects of fine particles on respiratory mortality and morbidity in Beijing, 2004–2009

Recent epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown associations between particulate matter and human health. However, the estimates of adverse health effects are inconsistent across many countries and areas. The stratification and interaction models were employed within the context of the generalized additive Poisson regression equation to examine the acute effects of fine particles on respiratory health and to explore the possible joint modification of temperature, humidity, and season in Beijing, China, for the period 2004–2009. The results revealed that the respiratory health damage threshold of the PM_2.5 concentration was mainly within the range of 20–60 μg/m³, and the adverse effect of excessively high PM_2.5 concentration maintained a stable level. In the most serious case, an increase of 10 μg/m³ PM_2.5 results in an elevation of 4.60 % (95 % CI 3.84–4.60 %) and 4.48 % (95 % CI 3.53–5.41 %) with a lag of 3 days, values far higher than the average level of 0.69 % (95 % CI 0.54–0.85 %) and 1.32 % (95 % CI 1.02–1.61 %) for respiratory mortality and morbidity, respectively. There were strong seasonal patterns of adverse effects with the seasonal variation of temperature and humidity. The growth rates of respiratory mortality and morbidity were highest in winter. And, they increased 1.4 and 1.8 times in winter, greater than in the full year as PM_2.5 increased 10 μg/m³.     

Chemical characterization and source identification of PM2.5 in Luoyang after the clean air actions

Luoyang is a typical heavy industrial city in China, with a coal-dominated energy structure and serious air pollution. Following the implementation of the clean air actions, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed. A comprehensive study of PM_2.5 was conducted from October 16, 2019 to January 23, 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of previous control measures and further to provide theory basis for more effective policies in the future. Results showed that the aerosol pollution in Luoyang in autumn and winter is still serious with the average concentration of 91.1 μg/m³, although a large reduction (46.9%) since 2014. With the contribution of nitrate increased from 12.5% to 25.1% and sulfate decreased from 16.7% to 11.2%, aerosol pollution has changed from sulfate-dominate to nitrate-dominate. High NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio and the increasing of NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio with the aggravation of pollution indicating vehicle exhaust playing an increasingly important role in PM_2.5 pollution in Luoyang, especially in the haze processes. Secondary inorganic ions contributed significantly to the enhancement of PM_2.5 during the pollution period. The high value of Cl⁻/Na⁺ and EC concentration indicate coal combustion in Luoyang is still serious. The top three contributor sources were secondary inorganic aerosols (33.3%), coal combustion (13.6%), and industrial emissions (13.4%). Close-range transport from the western and northeastern directions were more important factors in air pollution in Luoyang during the sampling period. It is necessary to strengthen the control of coal combustion and reduce vehicle emissions in future policies.     

京津冀及周边地区大气污染综合立体观测网的建设与应用

京津冀及周边地区大气染污综合立体观测网针对的是大气重污染发生-演变-消散全过程的核心科学问题,通过制定适用于京津冀及周边地区的大气污染综合观测技术规范,建立了区域大气污染综合立体观测网,开展了近地面及大气边界层气象和大气化学过程的同步观测,构建了监测数据综合分析及共享应用平台,实现了大气环境多源数据综合管理业务化,为大气重污染成因研究提供精准数据集,提升了京津冀秋冬季重污染成因机制研究和精细化源解析的能力,推动了京津冀及周边地区空气质量的持续改善.京津冀及周边地区大气污染综合立体观测网开展了传输通道的加密观测,增加了背景站和手工采样点观测,建立了包括黑碳、氨和重金属等多要素的关键站点,并充分利用了服务于科学研究的超级站和垂直梯度观测技术.京津冀及周边地区大气污染综合立体观测网和数据平台的建立,实现了业务部门与科研部门数据的有效融合与综合管理业务化,具有效率高、代表性好、目的性强的特点,能够很好地应对决策部门不断提高的管理需求.观测网络和平台充分吸取了国外的先进技术和观测经验,保证了观测网长期稳定运行;通过综合环境空气质量监测预警和发布平台,为环境空气质量监测和污染成因综合研究提供技术支撑,最终为实现我国空气质量的全面改善奠定了坚实的基础.      

城市污水处理厂二沉池出水曝气混合絮凝的研究

在污水处理厂实验室，对二沉池出口污水进行了曝气和机械2种方式的混合絮凝对比试验。研究结果表明，对于同一水质，在相同的投药量下，曝气混凝沉淀后的水质明显优于机械混凝沉淀后的水质，各项水质指标的去除率分别提高：BOD₅ 6%～9%，COD 4%～6%，NH₃-N 6%～9%，TP 15%～24%，SS 8%～18%。     

Characterization of submicron particles during autumn in Beijing, China

In this study, we performed a highly time-resolved chemical characterization of nonrefractory submicron particles(NR-PM_1) in Beijing by using an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer(HR-ToF-AMS). The results showed the average NR-PM_1 mass concentration to be 56.4 ± 58.0 μg/m~3, with a peak at 307.4 μg/m~3. Due to the high frequency of biomass burning in autumn, submicron particles significantly increased in organic content, which accounted for 51% of NR-PM_1 on average. Secondary inorganic aerosols(sulfate + nitrate + ammonium) accounted for 46% of NR-PM_1, of which sulfate,nitrate, and ammonium contributed 15%, 20%, and 11%, respectively. To determine the intrinsic relationships between the organic and inorganic species, we used the positive matrix factorization(PMF) model to merge the high-resolution mass spectra of the organic species and NO+and NO_2~+ions. The PMF analysis separated the mixed organic and nitrate(NO+and NO_2~+) spectra into four organic factors, including hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol(HOA), oxygenated organic aerosol(OOA), cooking organic aerosol(COA), and biomass burning organic aerosol(BBOA), as well as one nitrate inorganic aerosol(NIA) factor. COA(33%) and OOA(30%) contributed the most to the total organic aerosol(OA) mass, followed by BBOA(20%) and HOA(17%). We successfully quantified the mass concentrations of the organic and inorganic nitrates by the NO+and NO2+ions signal in the organic and NIA factors. The organic nitrate mass varied from 0.01-6.8 μg/m~3, with an average of 1.0 ±1.1 μg/m~3, and organic nitrate components accounted for 10% of the total nitrate mass in this observation.     

Improving simulations of sulfate aerosols during winter haze over Northern China: the impacts of heterogeneous oxidation by NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We implemented the online coupled WRF-Chem model to reproduce the 2013 January haze event in North China, and evaluated simulated meteorological and chemical fields using multiple observations. The comparisons suggest that temperature and relative humidity (RH) were simulated well (mean biases are–0.2K and 2.7%, respectively), but wind speeds were overestimated (mean bias is 0.5 m?s^–1). At the Beijing station, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations were overpredicted and sulfate concentrations were largely underpredicted, which may result from uncertainties in SO₂ emissions and missing heterogeneous oxidation in current model. We conducted three parallel experiments to examine the impacts of doubling SO₂ emissions and incorporating heterogeneous oxidation of dissolved SO₂ by nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on sulfate formation during winter haze. The results suggest that doubling SO₂ emissions do not significantly affect sulfate concentrations, but adding heterogeneous oxidation of dissolved SO₂ by NO₂ substantially improve simulations of sulfate and other inorganic aerosols. Although the enhanced SO₂ to sulfate conversion in the HetS (heterogeneous oxidation by NO₂) case reduces SO₂ concentrations, it is still largely overestimated by the model, indicating the overestimations of SO₂ concentrations in the North China Plain (NCP) are mostly due to errors in SO₂ emission inventory.

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Improving simulations of sulfate aerosols during winter haze over Northern China: the impacts of heterogeneous oxidation by NO2

Incorporating the missing heterogeneous oxidation of S(IV) by NO₂ into the WRF-Chem model. Sulfate production is not sensitive to increase in SO₂ emission. The newly added reaction reproduces sulfate concentrations well during winter haze. We implemented the online coupled WRF-Chem model to reproduce the 2013 January haze event in North China, and evaluated simulated meteorological and chemical fields using multiple observations. The comparisons suggest that temperature and relative humidity (RH) were simulated well (mean biases are -0.2K and 2.7%, respectively), but wind speeds were overestimated (mean bias is 0.5 m?s⁻¹). At the Beijing station, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations were overpredicted and sulfate concentrations were largely underpredicted, which may result from uncertainties in SO₂ emissions and missing heterogeneous oxidation in current model. We conducted three parallel experiments to examine the impacts of doubling SO₂ emissions and incorporating heterogeneous oxidation of dissolved SO₂ by nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on sulfate formation during winter haze. The results suggest that doubling SO₂ emissions do not significantly affect sulfate concentrations, but adding heterogeneous oxidation of dissolved SO₂ by NO₂ substantially improve simulations of sulfate and other inorganic aerosols. Although the enhanced SO₂ to sulfate conversion in the HetS (heterogeneous oxidation by NO₂) case reduces SO₂ concentrations, it is still largely overestimated by the model, indicating the overestimations of SO₂ concentrations in the North China Plain (NCP) are mostly due to errors in SO₂ emission inventory.     

Progress in quantitative research on the relationship between atmospheric oxidation and air quality

Atmospheric oxidizing capacity (AOC) is an essential driving force of troposphere chemistry and self-cleaning, but the definition of AOC and its quantitative representation remain uncertain. Driven by national demand for air pollution control in recent years, Chinese scholars have carried out studies on theories of atmospheric chemistry and have made considerable progress in AOC research. This paper will give a brief review of these developments. First, AOC indexes were established that represent apparent atmospheric oxidizing ability (AOIe) and potential atmospheric oxidizing ability (AOIp) based on aspects of macrothermodynamics and microdynamics, respectively. A closed study refined the quantitative contributions of heterogeneous chemistry to AOC in Beijing, and these AOC methods were further applied in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and key areas across the country. In addition, the detection of ground or vertical profiles for atmospheric OH·, HO₂·, NO₃· radicals and reservoir molecules can now be obtained with domestic instruments in diverse environments. Moreover, laboratory smoke chamber simulations revealed heterogeneous processes involving reactions of O₃ and NO₂, which are typical oxidants in the surface/interface atmosphere, and the evolutionary and budgetary implications of atmospheric oxidants reacting under multispecies, multiphase and multi-interface conditions were obtained. Finally, based on the GRAPES-CUACE adjoint model improved by Chinese scholars, simulations of key substances affecting atmospheric oxidation and secondary organic and inorganic aerosol formation have been optimized. Normalized numerical simulations of AOIe and AOIp were performed, and regional coordination of AOC was adjusted. An optimized plan for controlling O₃ and PM_2.5 was analyzed by scenario simulation.     

Seasonal variation and sources of derivatized phenols in atmospheric fine particulate matter in North China Plain

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of derivatized phenols in Beijing and in Xinglong were performed from 2016 to 2017 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The results showed substantially more severe pollution in Beijing.Of the 14 compounds detected,the total average concentration was 100 ng/m~3 in Beijing,compared with 11.6 ng/m~3 in Xinglong.More specifically,concentration of nitro-aromatic compounds(NACs)(81.9 ng/m~3 in Beijing and 8.49 ng/m3 in Xinglong) was the highest,followed by aromatic acids(14.6 ng/m~3 in Beijing and 2.42 ng/m~3 in Xinglong) and aromatic aldehydes(3.62 ng/m~3 in Beijing and 0.681 ng/m~3 in Xinglong).In terms of seasonal variation,the highest concentrations were found for 4-nitrocatechol in winter in Beijing(79.1±63.9 ng/m~3) and 4-nitrophenol in winter in Xinglong(9.72±8.94 ng/m~3).The analysis also revealed diurnal variations across different seasons.Most compounds presented higher concentrations at night in winter because of the decreased boundary layer height and increased heating intensity.While some presented higher levels during the day,which attributed to the photo-oxidation process for summer and more biomass burning activities for autumn.Higher concentrations appeared in winter and autumn than in spring and summer,which resulted from more coal combustions and adverse meteorological conditions.The significant correlations among NACs indicated similar sources of pollution.Higher correlations presented within each subgroup than those between the subgroups.Good correlations between levoglucosan and nitrophenols,nitrocatechols,nitro salicylic acids,with correlation coefficients(r) of 0.66,0.69 and 0.69,respectively,indicating an important role of biomass burning among primary sources.     

重庆市北碚大气中PM2.5、NOx、SO2和O3浓度变化特征研究

重庆是我国西南工业重镇,但长期受大气污染困扰.利用全自动在线环境监测仪器,于2012年1月—2014年2月,对重庆市北碚区大气中的典型污染物PM2.5、NO_x、SO_2和O_3进行了观测研究.结果表明:重庆北碚大气首要污染物为PM2.5,2012和2013年平均浓度分别为(67.5±31.9)和(66.6±37.5)μg·m~(-3),是国家环境空气质量一级标准35μg·m~(-3)的1.9倍,两年超过国家二级标准的天数分别为119和126 d,年超标率均大于1/3;两年NO_x,SO_2及O_3的年平均浓度分别为(57.1±24.6)和(55.1±36.6),(43.1±24.0)和(35.0±21.9)及(31.1±24.9)和(48.5±37.4)μg·m~(-3).大气污染物浓度具有明显的季节变化特征,PM2.5和NO_x冬季污染最为严重,两年冬季平均值分别比两年年平均值高33.6%、59.6%和43.2%、8.5%;O_3表现为夏高冬低;SO_2春季最高且污染最轻.大气污染物日变化显示PM2.5和NO_x浓度呈双峰日变化形式,有早晚两个峰值,与城市交通高峰相对应.SO_2和O_3浓度呈单峰日变化,前者峰值出现在午前10∶00—12∶00大气对流层被打破之后,而后者峰值出现在午后16∶00局地光化学最强之时.消减各种污染源的颗粒物直接排放,消减气态污染物SO_2和NO_x的工业排放,消减机动车NO_x和VOCs等的排放,才有可能使重庆北碚的大气污染状况得到改善.