Evaluation of impact factors on PM2.5 based on long-term chemical components analyses in the megacity Beijing, China.
Nine years of sampling and analyses of fine particles (PM2.5) were performed in Beijing from 2005 to 2013. Twenty-seven chemical elements and black carbon (BC) in PM2.5 were analyzed in order to study chemical characteristics and temporal distribution of Beijing aerosols. Principle component analysis defined different types of elemental sources, based on which, the influences of a variety of anthropogenic activities including governmental intervention measures and natural sources on air quality were evaluated. For the first time, Ga is used as a tracer element for heating activities mainly using coal in Beijing, due to its correlation with BC and coal combustion, as well as its concentration variation between the heating- and non-heating periods. The traffic restrictions effectively reduced emissions of relevant heavy metals such as As, Cd, Sn and Sb. The expected long-term effectiveness of the steel smelters relocation was not observed due to the nearby relocation with increased capacity. Firework display during every Chinese spring festival season and special events such as the Olympic Games resulted in several times higher concentrations of K, Sr and Ba than other days and thus they were proposed as tracers for firework display. The impacts of all these factors were quantified and evaluated. Sand dust or dust storms induced higher concentrations of geogenic elements in PM2.5 compared to non-dust days. Sustainable mitigation measures, such as traffic restrictions, are necessary to be continued and improved to obtain more "blue sky" days in the future.
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Working Group for Environmental Mineralogy and Environmental System Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: yuan.chen@kit.edu.
Yuan
Y
Chen
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Working Group for Environmental Mineralogy and Environmental System Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Nina
N
Schleicher
School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
Kuang
K
Cen
School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
Xiuli
X
Liu
School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
Yang
Y
Yu
Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Volker
V
Zibat
Air Quality Department, Research Center Human Biometeorology, German Meteorological Service, 79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany.
Volker
V
Dietze
Air Quality Department, Research Center Human Biometeorology, German Meteorological Service, 79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany.
Mathieu
M
Fricker
Air Quality Department, Research Center Human Biometeorology, German Meteorological Service, 79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany.
Uwe
U
Kaminski
Institute of Urban and Regional Atmospheric Sciences, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012 Beijing, China.
Yizhen
Y
Chen
Institute of Urban and Regional Atmospheric Sciences, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012 Beijing, China.
Fahe
F
Chai
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Working Group for Environmental Mineralogy and Environmental System Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Working Group for Environmental Mineralogy and Environmental System Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Institute of Mineralogy, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
Stefan
S
Norra
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000068476:Beijing; D002681:China; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D053260:Soot / Q000737:chemistry
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D053260:Soot
Chemical compositions; Gallium; Megacity; Mitigation measures; PM(2.5); Urban aerosol