Geochemical characteristics and socioeconomic associations of carbonaceous aerosols in coal-fueled cities with significant seasonal pollution pattern

Fei Xie; Linhao Guo; Zichun Wang; Yongli Tian; Caiying Yue; Xingjun Zhou; Wei Wang; Jinyuan Xin; Changwei Lü

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108179

Geochemical characteristics and socioeconomic associations of carbonaceous aerosols in coal-fueled cities with significant seasonal pollution pattern

Environ Int. 2023 Sep:179:108179. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108179. Epub 2023 Sep 1.

Authors

Fei Xie¹, Linhao Guo², Zichun Wang³, Yongli Tian⁴, Caiying Yue⁴, Xingjun Zhou⁴, Wei Wang⁵, Jinyuan Xin⁶, Changwei Lü⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China; Inner Mongolia Environmental Monitoring Center, 010011 Hohhot, China.
² School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China.
³ School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China; School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, 116024 Dalian, China.
⁴ Inner Mongolia Environmental Monitoring Center, 010011 Hohhot, China.
⁵ School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China; Institute of Environmental Geology, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China.
⁷ School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China; Institute of Environmental Geology, Inner Mongolia University, 010021 Hohhot, China. Electronic address: lcw2008@imu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37666041
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108179

Abstract

Carbonaceous aerosols, comprising organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), are critical component of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), with diverse impacts on air quality and human health. This study investigated the concentrations and seasonal patterns of carbonaceous species in PM_2.5 during both the heating season (January 2021) and non-heating season (July 2021) in three coal-fueled cities in northern China, as well as the differences in carbonaceous aerosols and their associations with socioeconomic parameters in cities situated on either side of the "Hu Line" in China. The results showed that, owing to intensified coal combustion and unfavorable meteorological conditions, levels of OC, EC, and OC/EC ratios were higher in winter compared to summer. Moreover, the presence of dust (DU) and light pollution (LP) days resulted in elevated OC levels but decreased EC levels. The Char-EC/Soot-EC ratios were highest during LP, followed by CL and DU. A source apportionment analysis demonstrated that coal burning, vehicle exhaust, road dust, and biomass burning were the primary contributors to carbonaceous aerosols, as confirmed by diagnostic ratios, Char-EC/Soot-EC ratios, and PCA analysis. Furthermore, our study found that carbonaceous aerosols concentrations and source apportionment primarily varied with diurnal and seasonal trends and different pollution types. Additionally, at the national scale, population density and urban green space exhibited a positive correlation with OC/EC ratios (p < 0.05), while energy consumption per unit of GDP showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05). The observation that OC/EC ratios were lower in coal-fueled cities than in economy-based cities suggests a more severe pollution scenario. These findings highlight the importance of comprehending of the seasonal variation and chemical characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol for understanding air pollution sources and characteristics, which is essential for both air quality management and human health.

Keywords: Carbonaceous aerosols; Char-EC/Soot-EC; Economic associations; OC/EC; Source apportionment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aerosols
Carbon
Cities
Coal
Dust*
Humans
Particulate Matter
Seasons
Socioeconomic Factors
Soot*

Substances

Soot
Dust
Aerosols
Carbon
Coal
Particulate Matter