Twenty-one air quality monitoring stations including four with single particle aerosol mass spectrometers (SPAMS) were used to observe air quality and aerosol particulates during the 2020 Spring Festival (from January 21 to 28) in Guangzhou. The effect of burning fireworks on the atmosphere of Guangzhou and its eleven administrative regions was examined, and the chemical composition of firework particles was detected and analyzed by single particle aerosol mass spectrometry. The results show that the burning of fireworks had a significant impact on air quality in the discharge area and the prohibited discharge area. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 sharply increased in Guangzhou on New Year's Eve. Air quality in Zengcheng District, Baiyun District, Huangpu District, and some areas of Tianhe District was also affected by the concentrated burning of fireworks on January 25 between 01:00 and 06:00. A method of fireworks tracing based on SPAMS using Al+ as a tracer was established with a time resolution of 5 min. The main particle types emitted by the burning fireworks were levoglucan, potassium-rich, and mineral. These particles were well mixed with nitrate, but this was not conducive to the formation of ammonium.
Keywords: Guangzhou; air quality; burning fireworks; single particle mass spectrometry; source identification method.