Part II: PM2.5 and Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Ambient Air of Northern China

Abstract

During 2014During -2016, this study investigated the atmospheric PM 2.5 , R M , PM 2.5 /PM 10 , PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 -TEQ, and PM 2.5 -bound total-PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 -TEQ content of 22 cities in northern China. In general, the more highly industrialized cities had higher PM 2.5 concentrations. The lowest three-year average concentrations of PM 2.5 occurred at Lhasa and Qiqihar, and were 25.2 and 36.7 µg m -3 , respectively, while the highest concentrations of PM 2.5 occurred at Baoding and Shijiazhuang, and were 106 and 102 µg m -3 , respectively. From 2015 to 2016, the PM 2.5 concentrations of most cities decreased, but those of several others (Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Yinchuan, Lhasa, Sinning, Urumqi, Weinan and Xian) increased, suggesting that the air quality of these was still not well controlled. The average of R M values of the 22 cities were 7.2, 6.5, and 6.1 in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, which means the PM 2.5 concentrations in northern China were much higher than the WHO air quality regulated standard (10 µg m -3 ). A city with a higher PM 2.5 concentration always had a higher PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratio. Among the 22 cities, the six highest three-year averages of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 . The PM 2.5 concentrations, R M values and PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 -TEQ concentrations in the cities of northern China are higher than those in the south, indicating that the air quality in the north is worse than in the south. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for proposing air pollution control strategies and improving the atmospheric environment in China.

Spatial and Temporal Variation of PM2.5 and Atmospheric PCDD/Fs in Northern Taiwan during Winter Monsoon and Local Pollution Episodes

“…This finding is consistent with that of Hueglin et al (2005), which was undertaken in Switzerland. Moreover, throughout the two-year period, the mean concentrations of PM 2.5 at all sampling sites in northern Taipei was 17.7 ± 13 µg m -3 , lower than that reported by recent relevant studies: 29.3-102.2 µg m -3 in central Taiwan (Cheng et al, 2008), 43.2 ± 20 µg m -3 in southern Taiwan (Cheng et al, 2014), 90.3 ± 55 and 95.5± 42 µg m -3 in Shanghai (Feng et al, 2009), 106-131 µg m -3 in Hebei Xing et al, 2017) and 60.7 ± 20 and 187 ± 48 µg m -3 in India (Panda et al, 2015). (range: 14.8-59.4 fg I-TEQ m -3 ) at Urban Site 1 and 11.0 ± 2.70 fg I-TEQ m -3 (range: 8.25-13.6 fg I-TEQ m -3 ) at Background Site.…”

“…Lower levels of PM 2.5 concentrations and PCDD/F concentrations associated with such geographical locations were also reported in China (Ding et al, 2013), the United States (Cleverly et al, 2007), and Portugal (Cleverly et al, 2007;Coutinho et al, 2007;Ding et al, 2013). PCDD/F concentration levels recorded at all the other sampling sites were lower than those reported in Portugal (49.8 fg I-TEQ m ) but similar to those reported in Argentina (39 ± 76 fg I-TEQ m -3 ) and Taiwan (34-53 fg I-TEQ m -3 ) (Coutinho et al, 2015;Cappelletti et al, 2016;Ho et al, 2016;Lee et al, 2016;Meng et al, 2016;Sun et al, 2017;Xing et al, 2017).…”

Atmospheric Deposition of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Two Cities of Northern China

“…The pertinent meteorological information was obtained from local air quality monitoring stations and present in Table 1. The concentrations of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 -TEQ and PM 2.5 in the ambient air during 2014 in both cities are cited from Xing et al (2017).…”

“…The monthly mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs-WHO 2005 -TEQ and PM 2.5 from January 2014 to December 2014 in Northern China were obtained from Xing et al (2017). The related meteorological information included monthly temperature and rainfall for Harbin and Shijiazhuang during 2014, and this was obtained from local air quality monitoring stations.…”

Flow Dynamics and PM2.5 Deposition in Healthy and Asthmatic Airways at Different Inhalation Statuses

“…The side effects of PM 2.5 to the human body include airway damages, cardiovascular impairments, exacerbation of diabetes mellitus, and adverse effects to infants (Feng et al, 2016;Xing et al, 2017). Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) are some of the conditions which come as a result of deformations of human airways.…”