Statistical distributions of ambient air pollutants in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the best statistical distribution of concentration data of major air pollutants in Shanghai.


METHODS
Four types of theoretic distributions (lognormal, gamma, Pearson V and extreme value) were chosen to fit daily average concentration data of PM10, SO2 and NO2 from June 1, 2000 to May 31, 2003 in Shanghai by using the maximum likelihood method. The fit results were evaluated by Chi-square test.


RESULTS
The best-fit distributions for PM10, SO2 and NO2 concentrations in Shanghai were lognormal, Pearson V, and extreme value distributions, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results can be further applied to local air pollution prediction and control, e.g., the probabilities exceeding the air quality standard and emission source reduction of air pollutant concentration to meet the standard.
Kan
Hai-Dong
HD
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Box 249, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China. hdkan@shmu.edu.cn
Chen
Bing-Heng
BH
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide