Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in China: Will Decoupling of Their Emissions and Socioeconomic Growth Emerge?

Cao, Xianghui; Huo, Shouliang; Zhang, Hanxiao; Zhao, Xiaoli; Guo, Wei; He, Zhuoshi; Ma, Chunzi; Zheng, Jiaqi; Shi, Song

doi:10.1029/2021ef002360

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…The percentage contributions of biofuels and waste to the total PES have decreased while those of solar, wind, hydro power, nuclear, and natural gas have increased over the last two decades in both countries (Figure 2). Recently, the coupling between emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) driven by energy transitions and socioeconomic factors over China was examined, and the results showed that after 2016 the PAHs emissions were decoupled from socioeconomic growth (Cao et al, 2022). It was predicted that emissions of PAHs will reach a peak in 2035 when driven only by energy transition under the shared socioeconomic pathways (Cao et al, 2022).…”

Section: Energy Transitions Over Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, the coupling between emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) driven by energy transitions and socioeconomic factors over China was examined, and the results showed that after 2016 the PAHs emissions were decoupled from socioeconomic growth (Cao et al, 2022). It was predicted that emissions of PAHs will reach a peak in 2035 when driven only by energy transition under the shared socioeconomic pathways (Cao et al, 2022). Typically, the energy growth, GDP growth, and CO 2 emissions are tightly coupled; however, the coupling/de-coupling between energy, GDP, and emissions of climate-forcing air pollutants (e.g., BC) and the resultant atmospheric effects over Asia are unclear and have not been properly investigated yet.…”

Section: Energy Transitions Over Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate Benefits of Cleaner Energy Transitions in East and South Asia Through Black Carbon Reduction

Ramachandran

Rupakheti

Cherian

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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The state of air pollution has historically been tightly linked to how we produce and use energy. Air pollutant emissions over Asia are now changing rapidly due to cleaner energy transitions; however, magnitudes of benefits for climate and air quality remain poorly quantified. The associated risks involve adverse health impacts, reduced agricultural yields, reduced freshwater availability, contributions to climate change, and economic costs. We focus particularly on climate benefits of energy transitions by making first-time use of two decades of high quality observations of atmospheric loading of light-absorbing black carbon (BC) over Kanpur (South Asia) and Beijing (East Asia) and relating these observations to changing energy, emissions, and economic trends in India and China. Our analysis reveals that absorption aerosol optical depth (AAOD) due to BC has decreased substantially, by 40% over Kanpur and 60% over Beijing between 2001 and 2017, and thus became decoupled from regional economic growth. Furthermore, the resultant decrease in BC emissions and BC AAOD over Asia is regionally coherent and occurs primarily due to transitions into cleaner energies (both renewables and fossil fuels) and not due to the decrease in primary energy supply or decrease in use of fossil use and biofuels and waste. Model simulations show that BC aerosols alone contribute about half of the surface temperature change (warming) of the total forcing due to greenhouse gases, natural and internal variability, and aerosols, thus clearly revealing the climate benefits due to a reduction in BC emissions, which would significantly reduce global warming. However, this modeling study excludes responses from natural variability, circulation, and sea ice responses, which cause relatively strong temperature fluctuations that may mask signals from BC aerosols. Our findings show additional benefits for climate (beyond benefits of CO2 reduction) and for several other issues of sustainability over South and East Asia, provide motivation for ongoing cleaner energy production, and consumption transitions, especially when they are associated with reduced emissions of air pollutants. Such an analysis connecting the trends in energy transitions and aerosol absorption loading, unavailable so far, is crucial for simulating the aerosol climate impacts over Asia which is quite uncertain.

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Section: Energy Transitions Over Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Energy Transitions Over Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Benefits of Cleaner Energy Transitions in East and South Asia Through Black Carbon Reduction

Ramachandran

Rupakheti

Cherian

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…Within China, measures are being taken to convert the domestic coal used for heating and cooking to natural gas, and renewable energy is being used extensively. In addition, according to Cao et al, PAH emissions from 2016 to 2020 from domestic coal across China have been nearly halved [25]. Thus, considering also the results of the back trajectory analysis, one of the main reasons for the markedly downward behavior in winter values is thought to be the decrease in the amount of biomass and coal burned for heating and other operations in cold continental regions such as northern China.…”

Section: Behaviors In Pah Concentrations and Their Causesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2021, community-acquired infections still occurred frequently in China, and factory operations were suspended each time. As a result, the concentration of PAHs emitted in China decreased, which is presumed to have affected the overall decrease in the concentration of PAHs in Nagasaki in 2020 and 2021. across China have been nearly halved [25]. Thus, considering also the results of the back trajectory analysis, one of the main reasons for the markedly downward behavior in winter values is thought to be the decrease in the amount of biomass and coal burned for heating and other operations in cold continental regions such as northern China.…”

Section: Behaviors In Pah Concentrations and Their Causesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clear Declining Behaviors and Causes in Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations at the West End of Japan from 2017 to 2021

et al. 2022

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In order to determine recent behaviors in atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations at the west end of Japan and to reveal the causes of these behaviors, atmospheric PAH concentrations were measured in suburban and forest sites of Nagasaki, Japan from 2017 to 2021. The results showed that the total concentration of PAHs decreased considerably by 60% and 57% in suburban and forest sites, respectively, over this period. When analyzed by season, the rate of decrease in winter was markedly high. Therefore, the decreasing behavior in PAH concentrations in Nagasaki in recent years was considered to be mainly due to less PAHs originating from cold continental regions such as northern China. In particular, the reduction in coal and biomass combustion for winter heating in households, the efforts to improve air quality, and the limitation of economic activities in response to COVID-19 were likely responsible for the decrease in atmospheric PAH concentrations. In addition, although the PAH concentrations decreased, there was no significant change in the breakdown of the number of benzene rings in the PAH or in the attributes of their sources.

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“…Nonetheless, a variety of research on trophic transfer and PAHs biomagnification indicate that PAHs may biomagnify in the aquatic food web and may eventually have harmful impacts on human health [33]. Several other studies also suggest the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PAHs in aquatic ecosystems, and the risk studies are the major concern of PAHs research [34][35][36]. Moreover, PAHs are also bound to atmospheric fine particles, causing serious health effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources, Occurrences, and Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydro-Carbons (PAHs) in Bangladesh: A Review of Current Status

Uddin,

2024

Atmosphere

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution has emerged as a significant environmental issue in Bangladesh in the recent years, driven by both economic and population growth. This review aims to investigate the current trends in PAHs pollution research, covering sediments, water, aquatic organisms, air particles, and associated health risks in Bangladesh. A comparative analysis with PAHs research in other countries is conducted, and potential future research directions are explored. This review suggests that the research on PAHs pollution in Bangladesh is less well studied and has fewer research publications compared to other countries. Dominant sources of PAHs in Bangladesh are fossil fuel combustion, petroleum hydrocarbons, urban discharges, industrial emissions, shipbreaking, and shipping activities. The concentrations of PAHs in sediments, water, air particles, and aquatic organisms in Bangladesh were found to be higher than those in most of the other countries around the world. Therefore, coastal sediments showed higher PAHs pollution than urban areas. Health risk assessments reveal both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to residents in Bangladesh due to the consumption of aquatic organisms. According to this investigation, it can be concluded that there are considerably higher PAHs concentrations in different environmental compartments in Bangladesh, which have received less research attention compared with other countries of the world. Considering these circumstances, this review recommends that future PAHs pollution research directions should focus on aquatic ecosystems, shipbreaking areas, air particles, and direct exposure to human health risks. Therefore, this study recommends addressing the identification of PAH sources, bioaccumulation, biomagnification in the food web, and biomarker responses of benthic organisms in future PAHs pollution research.

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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in China: Will Decoupling of Their Emissions and Socioeconomic Growth Emerge?

Cited by 13 publications

References 51 publications

Climate Benefits of Cleaner Energy Transitions in East and South Asia Through Black Carbon Reduction

Climate Benefits of Cleaner Energy Transitions in East and South Asia Through Black Carbon Reduction

Clear Declining Behaviors and Causes in Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations at the West End of Japan from 2017 to 2021

Sources, Occurrences, and Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydro-Carbons (PAHs) in Bangladesh: A Review of Current Status

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