PM2.5 in China: Measurements, sources, visibility and health effects, and mitigation--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Pui, D. Y. H., Chen, S.-C., & Zuo, Z. (2014). PM2.5 in China: Measurements, sources, visibility and health effects, and mitigation. Particuology, 13, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2013.11.001

David Y.H. Pui^*, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Zhili Zuo

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

10.1016/j.partic.2013.11.001

Volume 13, April 2014, Pages 1-26

Received 20 September 2013, Accepted 12 November 2013, Available online 31 December 2013.

E-mail: dyhpui@umn.edu

Highlights

• We review various aspects of PM_2.5 with focus on studies in China and comparison with the U.S.

• Coal combustion, vehicle emissions, and industrial sources are the major contributors to PM_2.5.

• PM_2.5 and its exposure are strongly associated with adverse visibility and health effects.

• Baghouse filtration is increasingly used to control primary emissions of PM_2.5.

• An integrative approach can effectively manage and mitigate the PM_2.5 pollution in China.

Abstract

Concern over the health effects of fine particles in the ambient environment led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop the first standard for PM_2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm) in 1997. The Particle Technology Laboratory at the University of Minnesota has helped to establish the PM_2.5 standard by developing many instruments and samplers to perform atmospheric measurements. In this paper, we review various aspects of PM_2.5, including its measurement, source apportionment, visibility and health effects, and mitigation. We focus on PM_2.5 studies in China and where appropriate, compare them with those obtained in the U.S. Based on accurate PM_2.5 sampling, chemical analysis, and source apportionment models, the major PM_2.5 sources in China have been identified to be coal combustion, motor vehicle emissions, and industrial sources. Atmospheric visibility has been found to correlate well with PM_2.5 concentration. Sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate carried by PM_2.5, commonly found in coal burning and vehicle emissions, are the dominant contributors to regional haze in China. Short-term exposure to PM_2.5 is strongly associated with the increased risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in China. The strategy for PM_2.5mitigation must be based on reducing the pollutants from the two primary sources of coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions. Although conventional Particulate Emission Control Devices (PECD) such as electrostatic precipitators in Chinese coal-fired power plants are generally effective for large particles, most of them may not have high collection efficiency of PM_2.5. Baghouse filtration is gradually incorporated into the PECD to increase the PM_2.5 collection efficiency. By adopting stringent vehicle emissions standard such as Euro 5 and 6, the emissions from vehicles can be gradually reduced over the years. An integrative approach, from collaboration among academia, government, and industries, can effectively manage and mitigate the PM_2.5 pollution in China.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

PM_2.5 in China; Atmospheric particle size distribution; PM_2.5 sampling; Chemical composition of PM_2.5; Source apportionment models; PM_2.5 health impact; PM_2.5 mitigation; Coal-fired power plant; Particle emission control devices (PECD); Baghouse filtration; Integrative approach

文章导读