Temporal and spatial variations of air pollution across China from 2015 to 2018

Xiaoteng Zhou; Vladimir Strezov; Yijiao Jiang; Tao Kan; Tim Evans

doi:10.1016/j.jes.2021.04.025

Temporal and spatial variations of air pollution across China from 2015 to 2018

J Environ Sci (China). 2022 Feb:112:161-169. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.04.025. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Authors

Xiaoteng Zhou¹, Vladimir Strezov², Yijiao Jiang³, Tao Kan⁴, Tim Evans²

Affiliations

¹ ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia. Electronic address: xiaoteng.zhou@mq.edu.au.
² ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
³ ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
⁴ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.

PMID: 34955200
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.04.025

Abstract

This study investigated concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO and O₃, and air quality index (AQI) values across 368 cities in mainland China during 2015-2018. The study further examined relationships of air pollution status with local industrial capacities and vehicle possessions. Strong correlations were found between industrial capacities (coal, pig iron, crude steel and rolled steel) and air pollution levels. Although statistical and significant reductions of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO and AQI values were observed in response to various laws and regulations in industrial sectors, both particle and gaseous pollutants still had annual average concentrations above recommended limits. In order to further reduce air pollution, more efforts can be done to control traffic emissions caused by minicars and heavy trucks, which was revealed after investigating 16 vehicle types. This was also consistent with the apparent air quality improvement during the COVID-19 lockdown period in China in 2020, despite industrial operations being still active at full capacities.

Keywords: Industrial products; NO(2); PM(10); PM(2.5); SO(2); Vehicle numbers.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Animals
COVID-19*
China
Cities
Communicable Disease Control
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis
SARS-CoV-2
Swine

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter