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Studies related to air pollutants and spontaneous abortion in urban northwestern China are scarce, and the main exposure windows of pollutants acting on pregnant women are unclear. Case-control study. Data were collected from pregnant women in Tongchuan City from 2018 to 2019. A total of 289 cases of spontaneous abortion and 1156 cases of full-term labor were included and analyzed using a case–control study. Logistic regression models were developed to explore the relationship between air pollutants and spontaneous abortion after Chi square analysis and Air pollutant description. O 3 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.028) is a risk factor for spontaneous abortion throughout pregnancy. PM 2.5 (OR = 1.015), PM 10 (OR = 1.010), SO 2 (OR = 1.026), and NO 2 (OR = 1.028) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 30 days before the last menstrual period. PM 2.5 (OR = 1.015), PM 10 (OR = 1.013), SO 2 (OR = 1.036), and NO 2 (OR = 1.033) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 30–60 days before the last menstrual period. PM 2.5 (OR = 1.028), PM 10 (OR = 1.013), SO 2 (OR = 1.035), and NO 2 (OR = 1.059) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 60–90 days before the last menstrual period. Exposure to high levels of air pollutants may be a cause of increased risk of spontaneous abortion, especially in the first trimester of the last menstrual period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of closure measures in 2020, population mobility and human activities have decreased, which has seriously impacted atmospheric quality. Huaibei City is an important coal and chemical production base in East China, which faces increasing environmental problems. The impact of anthropogenic activities on air quality in this area was investigated by comparing the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 with the normal situation in 2021. Tropospheric NO2, HCHO and SO2 column densities were observed by ground-based multiple axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS). In situ measurements for PM2.5, NO2, SO2 and O3 were also taken. The observation period was divided into four phases, the pre-lockdown period, phase 1 lockdown, phase 2 lockdown and the post-lockdown period. Ground-based MAX-DOAS results showed that tropospheric NO2, HCHO and SO2 column densities increased by 41, 14 and 14%, respectively, during phase 1 in 2021 vs. 2020. In situ results showed that NO2 and SO2 increased by 59 and 11%, respectively, during phase 1 in 2021 vs. 2020, but PM2.5 and O3 decreased by 15 and 17%, respectively. In the phase 2 period, due to the partial lifting of control measures, the concentration of pollutants did not significantly change. The weekly MAX-DOAS results showed that there was no obvious weekend effect of pollutants in the Huaibei area, and NO2, HCHO and SO2 had obvious diurnal variation characteristics. In addition, the relationship between the column densities and wind speed and direction in 2020 and 2021 was studied. The results showed that, in the absence of traffic control in 2021, elevated sources in the Eastern part of the city emitted large amounts of NO2. The observed ratios of HCHO to NO2 suggested that tropospheric ozone production involved NOX-limited scenarios. The correlation analysis between HCHO and different gases showed that HCHO mainly originated from primary emission sources related to SO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tax collection and management is an important factor affecting corporate pollution emissions, but currently, few studies systematically and rigorously identify its effects. Based on China's tax collection and management reform and a microenterprise database, this paper uses a regression discontinuity design model to empirically analyze the impact of tax collection and management reform on environmental pollution and the mechanism of this impact. This study found that the tax collection and management reforms have significantly increased environmental pollution. On average, the environmental pollution of enterprises affected by the reform has increased by approximately 10.8%. This effect is more pronounced in companies with high innovation capabilities and financing constraints, companies in underdeveloped areas, zombie companies, large-scale companies, and non-labor-intensive companies. The impact mechanism analysis shows that tax collection and management reforms increase the tax burden and costs of enterprises and reduce enterprise operating performance, thereby exacerbating environmental pollution. The findings of this article help clarify the impact of government taxation decisions on environmental pollution decisions and have enlightening significance for improving taxation system design and reducing environmental pollution in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollutants in the atmosphere have been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes in women. However, such investigations are scarce in metropolitan northern China. The major exposure window of air pollution affecting pregnant women is also unknown. For the analysis, this retrospective cohort study enrolled 6960 pregnant women recorded at Tongchuan People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. Pollutant concentration values from the nearest monitoring station to the pregnant women were used to estimate exposure doses for each exposure window. Logistic regression models were created to investigate the connection between pollutants and spontaneous abortion while controlling for confounding factors. PM2.5 was a risk factor for spontaneous abortion in T3 (30–60 days before the first day of the last menstrual period [LMP]), (OR: 1.305, 95% CI: 1.143–1.490) and T4 (60–90 days before the first day of the LMP),(OR: 1.450, 95% CI: 1.239–1.696) after controlling for covariates. In the same window, PM10 was a risk factor (OR: 1.308, 95% CI: 1.140–1.500), (OR: 1.386, 95% CI: 1.184–1.621). In T2 (30 days before the first day of the LMP), T3, and T4, SO2 was a risk factor for spontaneous abortion (OR: 1.185, 95% CI: 1.025–1.371), (OR: 1.219, 95% CI: 1.071–1.396), (OR: 1.202, 95% CI: 1.040–1.389). In T3 and T4, NO2 was a risk factor (OR: 1.171, 95% CI: 1.019– 1.346), (OR: 1.443, 95% CI: 1.259–1.655). In T1 (from the first day of the LMP to the date of abortion), O3 was found to be a risk factor (OR: 1.366, 95% CI: 1.226–1.521). Exposure to high levels of air pollutants before and during pregnancy may be a risk factor for spontaneous abortion in pregnant women. This study further illustrates the importance of reducing air pollution emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of ultra-low emission (ULE) limits (SO 2 : 35 mg/m3, NO x : 50 mg/m3, PM: 10 mg/m3) promoted the development of flue gas treatment technologies in China. Pollutant control technology development for Chinese coal-fired power plants was summarized and an analysis of the applicability and cost of pollutant control technologies was conducted. Detailed data were collected from 30 ultra-low emission coal-fired units across China. Based on a cost analysis model, the average unit power generation incremental costs were 0.0144 and 0.0095 CNY/(kW·hr) for SO 2 and NO x control technologies, respectively. The unit power generation incremental cost of twin spray tower technology was 7.2% higher than that of dual-loop spray tower technology. The effect of key parameters on operating cost was analyzed. The unit power generation incremental cost increased because of increments in the electricity price for SO 2 control technology and the price of the reductant in NO x control technology. With high sulfur content or NO x concentration, the unit power generation incremental cost caused by pollutant control increased, whereas the unit pollutant abatement cost decreased. However, the annual operating hours or load increased, thereby leading to a decline in unit power generation incremental cost and unit pollutant abatement cost. Unit power generation incremental cost of SO 2 and NO x control technologies for different coal-fired units. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper in the international market has been priced by copper futures contracts from the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX). Copper prices initially showed a downward trend until March 2020, but after the outbreak of COVID-19, they continued to rise and reached a record high in May 2021. The rise in copper demand also stimulated the continuous growth of copper production. However, a significant amount of smelting flue gas is produced in the copper smelting process. The main component of the flue gas is SO2 and other acid gases, which pollute the environmental atmosphere. At the same time, due to the Chinese government's effective control of the pandemic, China's economy continued to grow. Therefore, as one of the world's largest copper consumers and producers, China's futures market has attracted attention for its influence on copper pricing and the pollution caused by copper smelting. In this paper, we used the grey entropy method to compare the influence of copper prices on the three futures markets and changes in China's air pollution in recent years. Our results show that before the pandemic, the influence of the LME futures copper price was the same as the COMEX but greater than the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). After the outbreak of the pandemic, the influence of the SHFE copper futures price significantly improved and slightly exceeded the LME and COMEX. This result echoes our finding that SO2 has caused serious air pollution in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on the effects of exposure to ambient gaseous pollutants on children's vision was consistently scarce. We aimed to explore the effect of ambient gaseous pollutant exposure on the incidence of visual impairment (VI) in children. From 2005 to 2018, a total of 340,313 children without VI participated in a longitudinal and two-center dynamic cohort. The logMAR acuity was used to assess visual function. The space–time extremely randomized trees model was used to estimate SO2 and CO exposures levels. The association between SO2 and CO and VI risks among children was assessed using a proportional hazards model with a restricted cubic spline. Subgroup analyses stratified by gender and grades were used to investigate the differences in an association of SO2 and CO exposures with childhood VI. A total of 158381 (46.54%) children experienced an new incident VI. A ten-unit (10 μg/m3) increase in SO2 exposure concentrations was significantly associated with a 1.70 times higher risk of childhood VI. In addition, a 0.1-unit (0.1 mg/m3) increase in CO exposure was significantly associated with a 1.22 times higher risk of childhood VI. The positive association between ambient gaseous pollutants (including SO2 and CO exposures) and childhood VI risks remained even after adjusting for other environmental variables. An increase in the incidence of VI in children was positively linked to SO2 and CO exposure. Such evidence might aid governments in developing strategies to interfere with children's eyesight by decreasing air pollution and changing school curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) poses a great disease burden in China. However, there are few studies on the relationship between temperature variability (TV) and HFMD. Moreover, whether air pollutions have modified effects on this relationship is still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to explore the modified effects of air pollutants on TV-HFMD association in Zibo City, China. Daily data of HFMD cases, meteorological factors, and air pollutants from 2015 to 2019 were collected for Zibo City. TV was estimated by calculating standard deviation of minimum and maximum temperatures over the exposure days. We used generalized additive model to estimate the association between TV and HFMD. The modified effects of air pollutants were assessed by comparing the estimated TV-HFMD associations between different air stratums. We found that TV increased the risk of HFMD. The effect was strongest at TV03 (4 days of exposure), when the incidence of HFMD increased by 3.6% [95% CI: 1.3–5.9%] for every 1℃ increases in TV. Males, children aged 0–4 years, were more sensitive to TV. We found that sulfur dioxide (SO2) enhanced TV's effects on all considered exposure days, while ozone (O3) reduced TV's effects on some exposure days in whole concerned population. However, we did not detect significant effect modification by particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10). These findings are of significance in developing policies and public health practices to reduce the risks of HFMD by integrating changes in temperatures and air pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite fuel of coal gangue and biomass is expected to increase the utilization rate of solid waste and compensate for the disadvantages of separate fuels. However, the NO and SO2 emissions from this composite fuel during the combustion process are a concern, but there are few studies on it. In this paper, corn cobs and wheat straws, typical agricultural biomass discarded in North China, and coal gangue from the mine in Xilingol, China, were selected for co-combustion in a fluidized bed. The emission characteristics of NO and SO2 were studied by changing the ratio of biomass to coal gangue and the combustion temperature. Studies had shown that: to a certain extent, mixing biomass, and coal gangue can reduce the NO and SO2 emissions, and mixing 20% of biomasses had the best effect on NO and SO2 emissions reduction. The SO2 emission reduction effect of wheat straws was better than that of corn cobs, and the NO emission reduction effect of corn cobs was better than that of wheat straws. The NO emissions of wheat straws and corn cobs added to the coal gangue were 6.45% and 7.93% less than those of coal gangue alone. The SO2 emissions of wheat straws and corn cobs added to the coal gangue were 27.45% and 25.94% less than those of coal gangue alone. Both NO and SO2 emissions decreased with the growth of the biomass rate; NO and SO2 emissions increased with the growth of the combustion temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission trading system is an effective market-oriented means to control pollutant emission, and reasonable initial allocation of emission rights is the premise of its smooth implementation. However, at present, the initial allocation of emission rights depends largely on the amount of emissions, which leads to weak positive guidance effect for enterprises. To explore the optimal initial allocation method of SO2 emission rights, this paper takes 8 thermal power plants in Dalian, China, as the research objects to calculate the initial allocation of SO2 emission rights, because SO2 is the main cause of acid rain, which is one of the most serious air pollution in China, and thermal power plants are among the main SO2 emitters. Firstly, an indicator system is established considering enterprise size, pollutant discharge, and social contributions, as well as pollution control capacity. Then, the combination weighting method is developed through integrating the subjective methods G1 and G2 with the objective ones, entropy and maximum deviation. The empirical results show that the enterprises with more desulfurization equipment or large heating supply are supposed to get more emission rights; the actual emission value of SO2 in half of the enterprises exceeds the theoretical ones; SO2 removal rate, desulfurization equipment quantity, and heating supply exert the most positive effects on the initial allocation of emission rights. The constructed model can be used as a reference for future research of initial allocation of other pollutants' emission rights. Also, the implications have been proposed for the government, industry, and enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated concentrations of PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , NO 2 , CO and O 3 , and air quality index (AQI) values across 368 cities in mainland China during 2015–2018. The study further examined relationships of air pollution status with local industrial capacities and vehicle possessions. Strong correlations were found between industrial capacities (coal, pig iron, crude steel and rolled steel) and air pollution levels. Although statistical and significant reductions of PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , NO 2 , CO and AQI values were observed in response to various laws and regulations in industrial sectors, both particle and gaseous pollutants still had annual average concentrations above recommended limits. In order to further reduce air pollution, more efforts can be done to control traffic emissions caused by minicars and heavy trucks, which was revealed after investigating 16 vehicle types. This was also consistent with the apparent air quality improvement during the COVID-19 lockdown period in China in 2020, despite industrial operations being still active at full capacities. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid nodules has become a significant public health issue worldwide with a rapidly increasing prevalence. However, its association with outdoor air pollution remains poorly understood. We aim to investigate the relationship between six outdoor air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) and the risk of thyroid nodules. Methods: We utilized a database including 4,920,536 participants who attended the annual physical examinations in the Meinian HealthCare Screening Center in 157 Chinese cities in 2017. City-specific concentrations of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) from 2015 to 2017 were estimated based on the China's National Urban Air Quality Real Time Publishing Platform. Thyroid nodule was measured with ultrasound. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between air pollutants and thyroid nodules with adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, urine iodine, gross domestic product, and thyroid stimulating hormone. We conducted stratified analyses to investigate potential effect modification by sex, age, and urine iodine groups. Results: Approximately 38% of the participants (1,869,742) were diagnosed with thyroid nodules. Each of the six air pollutants was significantly and linearly associated with the risk for thyroid nodules. The adjusted odds ratios [95% CI] for every increase of 10 μg/m3 for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 were 1.062 [1.061, 1.064], 1.04 [1.03, 1.04], 1.10 [1.09, 1.10], 1.11 [1.11, 1.12], and 1.151 [1.149, 1.154], respectively; The odds ratio for each increase of 1 mg/m3 for CO was 1.50 [1.49 to 1.52]. Furthermore, these associations were significantly higher in the participants who were men, younger, or having lower urine iodine level (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The six air pollutants may contribute to the high prevalence of thyroid nodules in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple evidence has supported that air pollution exposure has detrimental effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. However, most investigations focus on the general population, with limited research conducted on medically insured populations. To address this gap, the current research was designed to examine the acute effects of inhalable particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), ground-level ozone (O 3 ), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), utilizing medical insurance data in Wuhan, China. Data on URTI were collected from the China Medical Insurance Basic Database for Wuhan covering the period from 2014 to 2018, while air pollutant data was gathered from ten national monitoring stations situated in Wuhan city. Statistical analysis was performed using generalized additive models for quasi-Poisson distribution with a log link function. The analysis indicated that except for ozone, higher exposure to four other pollutants (NO 2 , SO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 ) were significantly linked to an elevated risk of URTI, particularly during the previous 0-3 days and previous 0-4 days. Additionally, NO 2 and SO 2 were found to be positively linked with laryngitis. Furthermore, the effects of air pollutants on the risk of URTI were more pronounced during cold seasons than hot seasons. Notably, females and the employed population were more susceptible to infection than males and non-employed individuals. Our findings gave solid proof of the link between ambient air pollution exposure and the risk of URTI in medically insured populations., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

Objective: We aimed to examine the associations between ambient air pollutants and daily mortality in Northeast China from 2014 to 2018. Methods: A two-stage approach was used to estimate particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO10), and sulfur dioxide (SP10) exposure and daily mortality. Results: An increase of 10 µg/m³ of PM10 exposure and NO2 at lag of 0 to 16 days was associated with the cumulative relative risk of 1.011 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004, 1.019) and 1.026 (95% CI: 1.004, 1.049), respectively, in non-accident mortality. Meanwhile, significant association was observed in people aged under 60 years between SO2 exposure and respiratory mortality at lag of 0 to 9 days. Conclusions: Our findings strengthen the evidence of PM10 and [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve green development, the Chinese government has taken a number of steps to reduce pollution. Several provinces of China thereby are implementing pilot pollution emission trading schemes. However, problems remain before establishing a nationwide pollution emission trading system, i.e., at what price do polluters acquire another emission allowance in the stage of initial quota allocation. In this context, shadow prices of emissions could provide the policymakers important information for the allowance prices. Besides, environmental protection policies often result in the reduction of several pollutants simultaneously. Thus, considering the provincial and sectoral significant differences in China, this paper employs a nonparametric output distance function approach including multiple undesirable outputs to estimate shadow prices of S O 2 and N O x at national level, provincial level and sectoral level. Our results suggest that multiple pollutants should be taken into account and shadow prices should be set differently at national, provincial and sectoral levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly stringent requirements of the state on environmental quality, GB 39728-2020 Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Onshore Oil and Gas Exploitation Industry was officially issued by the Ministry of Ecological Environment of the People's Republic of China, which specifies that the control index of SO2 mass concentration in tail gas from small and medium-sized natural gas purification plants (sulfur output less than 200 t/d) is 800 mg/m³. In order to meet the standard, the tail gas treatment process should be reformed. The technical and economic comparison of tail gas treatment process which are suitable for small and medium scale natural gas purification plants was carried out. For medium scale (sulfur output of 10-200 t/d) sulfur recovery units, oxidation absorption process was recommended. For small scale (sulfur output less than 10 t/d) sulfur recovery units, liquid-phase oxidation-reduction process was recommended [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ambient air pollution is becoming a serious environmental problem in China. The results were inconsistent on that air pollution was a risk factor of preeclampsia in pregnancy.Methods: Total 116,042 pregnant women were enrolled from 22 hospitals in 10 cities of Hebei Province, China from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. The parturients were divided into preeclampsia group (PE group) and non-preeclampsia group (non-PE group). The data of air pollutants, namely, particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3 were collected from China Environmental Inspection Station.Results: Among the 116,042 pregnant women, 2988 (2.57%) pregnant women were diagnosed with preeclampsia. The concentrations of exposed PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3 in the PE group were significantly higher than those in the non-PE group, and they were risk factors of the PE group in the first and second trimester of pregnancy respectively. The concentrations of exposed SO2 and CO in PE patients and non-PE women were not different, but high concentration of these air pollutants were risk factors to PE in the second trimester.Conclusion: The exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3 were risk factors for preeclampsia in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, while only at high level, SO2 and CO were risk factors for preeclampsia in the second trimester of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic emission of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from seawater is the major natural source of sulfur into the atmosphere. In this study, we use an advanced air quality model (CMAQv5.2) with DMS chemistry to examine the impact of DMS emissions from seawater on summertime air quality over China. A national scale database of DMS concentration in seawater is established based on a 5‐year observational record in the East China seas including the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea. We employ a commonly used global database and also the newly developed local database of oceanic DMS concentration, calculate DMS emissions using three different parameterization schemes, and perform five different model simulations for July, 2018. Results indicate that in large coastal areas of China, the average DMS emissions flux obtained with the local database is 3 times higher than that resulting from the global database, with a mean value of 9.1 μmol m−2 day−1 in the Bohai Sea, 8.4 μmol m−2 day−1 in the Yellow Sea, and 13.4 μmol m−2 day−1 in the East China Sea. The total DMS emissions flux calculated with the Nightingale scheme is 42% higher than that obtained with the Liss and Merlivat scheme but is 15% lower than that obtained with the Wanninkhof scheme. Among the three parameterizations, results of the Liss and Merlivat scheme agree better with the ship‐based observations over China's coastal waters. DMS emissions with the Liss and Merlivat parametrization increase atmospheric sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfate (SO42−) concentration over the East China seas by 6.4% and 3.3%, respectively. Our results indicate that although the anthropogenic source is still the dominant contributor of atmospheric sulfur burden in China, biogenic DMS emissions source is nonnegligible. Key Points: The use of local database better reproduces DMS emission fluxes over China's seawaterThe LM86 parameterization (Liss & Merlivat, 1986, https://doi.org/10.1007/978‐94‐009‐4738‐2%5f5) produces the best performance among the three tested schemes in China's offshore watersThe marine DMS emissions increase SO2 and SO42‐ in the atmosphere of the eastern China Sea [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The SO2 and NO emitted from coal‐fired power plants have caused serious air pollution in China. FeIIEDTA complexation technology is one of the most promising processes to realize the simultaneous removal of SO2 and NO. However, FeIIEDTA is easily oxidized to FeIIIEDTA, causing loss of activity, which limits its further application. To solve this problem, sodium dithionite (SD) combined with FeIIEDTA was used for the simultaneous removal of SO2 and NO. RESULTS: Results showed that the SO2 removal efficiencies were ≈92–99% in all experiments, whereas the NO removal fluctuated substantially under different operating conditions. Specifically, SD can markedly improve NO removal efficiency, and the optimal FeIIEDTA:SD ratio was 3 mmol L–1:0.026 mol L–1. With increasing temperature, pH value, SO2 concentration or O2 concentration, the NO removal efficiency increased first and then decreased. As the NO concentration increased, the NO removal efficiency continually decreased. Finally, based on the analysis of different ion concentrations, the main products were identified as sulfite, sulfate, ammonium, nitrite and nitrate. CONCLUSION: The synergistic mechanism of SD and FeIIEDTA on SO2 and NO was investigated. SD can regenerate FeIIEDTA solution by reducing FeIIIEDTA and FeIIEDTA‐NO. These fundamental findings can offer valuable guidance for industrial denitrification and desulfurization by mixed FeIIEDTA and SD systems. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total coal consumption in China is on the rise. The characteristics of CO2 and SO2 emissions in the whole process of coal processing and utilization in China are worthy of study. Based on the five links of the whole process of coal production and utilization, including coal production, raw coal processing, logistics and transportation, conversion and utilization and resource utilization, this paper summarized and analyzed the energy consumption and pollutant emission sources of these five links, combined with the US Environmental Protection Agency's AP-42 method and IPCC method, to calculate total pollutant discharge and emission factors, where the emission factors were corrected by conversion efficiency. At the same time, uncertainty analysis is performed about CO2 and SO2 emissions. The results showed that CO2 emissions were 3.657 billion tons, and emission reductions were 61 million tons, and SO2 emissions were 4,844,500 tons, and emission reductions were 10.3595 million tons in 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of vertical distribution of air pollutants is important for understanding the mechanisms underlying haze pollution. In this paper, we characterize the vertical structure of air pollutants based on ground-based Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements in the wintertime in Hefei, East China. Both NO 2 and aerosol show exponentially decreasing profile with high concentrations concentrated close to the surface, suggesting the major emissions are at ground level. SO 2 profiles extend to slightly higher altitudes than NO 2 , which might be due to the SO 2 emissions from elevated point sources (e.g., power plants). Elevated HCHO was observed in the middle layer during noon time, probably indicating that the larger effect of the photochemical formation of atmospheric HCHO rather than direct HCHO emissions. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) models were used to evaluate the potential sources of Hefei's air pollution in the lower, middle and upper boundary layer. The results revealed that the major regional source of NO 2 and aerosol were located in the northern and eastern part of Anhui and the transport mainly occured in the lower layer. Transported SO 2 from the northwestern regions in the middle layer made great contribution to SO 2 in Hefei. HCHO was mostly produced locally while the transport of HCHO from potential source areas was negligible. To further explore the potential source contributions affecting haze pollution, PSCF and CWT analysis for heavy haze episodes suggested that the potential source areas for aerosol were almost located in the northern region, the northwestern region, and the YRD region. Our findings provide a more comprehensive understanding for regional transport through the study on potential sources at different altitudes, which are useful for designing collaborative air pollution control strategies on a regional scale. • Vertical distribution of air pollutants is investigated to identify potential sources at different altitudes during winter. • Both NO 2 and aerosol show exponentially decreasing profile with high concentrations concentrated close to the surface. • SO 2 and HCHO profile typically extended to higher altitudes than NO 2 and aerosol did during winter. • The main potential sources for aerosol were located in the northern region, the northwestern region, and the YRD region. • This study is useful for designing collaborative air pollution control strategies on a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current grim situation of China's air contamination has become a grave environmental and social problem. The massive consumption of coal energy has resulted in a large amount of atmospheric pollutant emissions and consequently deteriorated air quality, making the cleaner transformation of coal energy a priority in the fight against air pollution in China. Based on this background, we used panel data with coverage for 286 Chinese cities over the time frame spanning 2013 to 2020 combined with the difference-in-differences (DID) model to investigate the impacts of the Plan for Cleaner Winter Heating in Northern Region (NCH) on air contamination and its action mechanism. The empirical evidence suggests that the implementation of the NCH policy can effectively alleviate air pollution, with a reduction in SO 2 concentration of approximately 20.4%, which can be corroborated by robustness tests. Nevertheless, the policy is insufficient to significantly reduce PM 2.5 pollution. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms are also examined here, revealing that energy structure optimization is a key path for the NCH policy to decrease SO 2 pollution. Moreover, due to the differences in the environmental protection characteristics, geographic location, priority and marketization level, significant heterogeneity of the impacts of NCH on SO 2 pollution was observed. Especially in nonlow‑carbon pilot cities, coastal cities, "2 + 26" key cities, and cities with high marketization, the policy was particularly pronounced in attenuating SO 2 pollution. These results can serve as a scientific basis for systematically setting up cleaner heating projects and informing decision-making in areas threatened by air pollution. • Cleaner heating plan in northern China (NCH) can cut SO 2 pollution by about 20.4%. • NCH policy fails to lower PM 2.5 pollution in northern China. • NCH policy drives SO 2 reduction by energy structure optimization. • '2 + 26' cities benefit more from NCH policy on SO 2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the relationship between the occurrence of convulsions in children and air pollution in Hangzhou., Methods: From January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, 775 children admitted with convulsion to the pediatric outpatient clinic of The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University (Hangzhou, China) were enrolled in this study. The clinical data and the corresponding weather data of the day in Hangzhou were collected and analyzed. Also, the monthly etiological classification of convulsions and the monthly average air data of Hangzhou were statistically analyzed., Results: The highest incidence of convulsion was observed in children 1 to 2 years old, and higher in boys than in girls. The top three main causes were febrile seizure, benign infantile convulsion with mild gastroenteritis, and epilepsy. Among the meteorological factors, the increase in the level of 2.5 micron particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in the air per month led to an increase in the number of patients with febrile seizure, benign infantile convulsion with mild gastroenteritis, and epilepsy, where the increase of ozone in 8 hours (O 3 -8h) per month led to a decrease in the number of patients with such conditions., Conclusions: PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and SO 2 are the main meteorological factors affecting the occurrence of convulsions in children in Hangzhou, and PM 2.5 and SO 2 are risk factors. The increase in the level of PM 2.5 in the air per month could increase occurrence of child convulsions, but the increase of O 3 -8h per month could decrease occurrence of child convulsions.

Background The aim of this study was to investigate an association between birth defects and exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particles ≤10 μm in an aerodynamic diameter (PM10) during early pregnancy in Xi'an, China. Methods Birth defect data were from the Birth Defects Monitoring System of Xi'an, and data on ambient air pollutants during 2010–15 were from the Xi'an Environmental Protection Bureau. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to investigate the relationship between birth defects and ambient air pollutants. Results Among the 8865 cases with birth defects analyzed, the overall incidence of birth defects was 117.33 per 10 000 infants. Ambient air pollutant exposure during the first trimester increased the risk of birth defects by 10.3% per 10 μg/m3 increment of NO2 and 3.4% per 10 μg/m3 increment of PM10. No significant association was found between birth defects and SO2. Moreover, NO2 increased risk of neural tube defects, congenital heart disease, congenital polydactyly, cleft palate, digestive system abnormalities and gastroschisis, and PM10 was associated with congenital heart disease and cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Conclusions Chinese women should avoid exposure to high levels of NO2 and PM10 during the first 3 months of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate plays an important role in atmospheric haze in China, which has received considerable attention in recent years. Various types of parameterization methods and heterogeneous oxidation rates of SO 2 have been used in previous studies. However, properly representing heterogeneous sulfate formation in air quality models remains a big challenge. In this study, we quantified the heterogeneous oxidation reaction using experimental results that approximate the haze conditions in China. Firstly, a series of experiments were conducted to investigate the heterogeneous uptake of SO 2 with different relative humidity (RH) levels and the presence of NH 3 and NO 2 on natural dust surfaces. Then the uptake coefficients for heterogeneous oxidation of SO 2 to sulfate at different RH under NH 3 and NO 2 coexistence were parameterized based on the experimental results and implemented in the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system (CMAQ). Simulation results suggested that this new parameterization improved model performance by 6.6% in the simulation of wintertime sulfate concentrations for Beijing. The simulated maximum growth rate of SO 4 2− during a heavy pollution period increased from 0.97 μg m−3 h−1 to 10.11 μg m−3 h−1. The heterogeneous oxidation of SO 2 in the presence of NH 3 contributed up to 23% of the sulfate concentration during heavy pollution periods. Image 1 • Uptake coefficients of SO 2 on dust with coexistence of NH 3 and NO 2 were obtained. • New parameterization was proposed based on experimental results under different RHs. • The new parameterization can improve sulfate simulation in wintertime in CMAQ. • Impact of NH 3 on heterogeneous formation of sulfate in wintertime is non-negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of the short-term effect of SO 2 on hospital admissions for cause-specific cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is still limited. This study aimed to examine the short-term associations between SO 2 and cause-specific CVD hospital admission in Beijing. A total of 460,938 hospitalizations for total CVD were obtained from electronic hospitalization summary reports from 2013 to 2017. A time series analysis was conducted to investigate the association between SO 2 exposure and hospitalizations for total and cause-specific CVD, including coronary heart disease (CHD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure (HF). Stratified analysis was also conducted by age group (18–64 years and ≥65 years), sex and season. A generalized additive quasi-Poisson model was used to examine the associations between SO 2 and cause-specific CVD after controlling for seasonality, day of the week, public holidays, and weather conditions. We found an almost linear relationship between the exposure to SO 2 and cause-specific CVD admissions. A 10 μg/m3 increase in the two-day average concentration (lag0-1) of SO 2 was associated with an increase of 1.38% (95% CI:0.99%; 1.77%) in hospital admission for total CVD, 1.58% (95% CI: 1.16%; 2%) for CHD and 1.69% (95% CI:0.41%; 2.99%) for AF. Nevertheless, a statistically significant association was not observed for admissions for HF. The observed associations in the single-pollutant models were robust to the inclusion of pollutants in the two-pollutant model, but the estimate was attenuated when adjusting for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). No difference in the association was observed for the effect modifiers of sex, season and age. A statistically significant association between hospitalizations and SO 2 was observed. The observed association between SO 2 and hospitalization might not be independent of fine particulate matter ( PM 2.5 ), and further studies should be conducted to demonstrate the independent effect of SO 2. • SO 2 has adverse short-term effects of on total and cause-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospital admission. • No difference of association was found for effect modifier of sex, season and age. • The association between SO 2 and cause-specific CVD admission might not be independent of PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution may be involved in spreading dengue fever (DF) besides rainfalls and warmer temperatures. While particulate matter (PM), especially those with diameter of 10 μm (PM10) or 2.5 μm or less (PM25), and NO2 increase the risk of coronavirus 2 infection, their roles in triggering DF remain unclear. We explored if air pollution factors predict DF incidence in addition to the classic climate factors. Public databases and DF records of two southern cities in Taiwan were used in regression analyses. Month order, PM10 minimum, PM2.5 minimum, and precipitation days were retained in the enter mode model, and SO2 minimum, O3 maximum, and CO minimum were retained in the stepwise forward mode model in addition to month order, PM10 minimum, PM2.5 minimum, and precipitation days. While PM2.5 minimum showed a negative contribution to the monthly DF incidence, other variables showed the opposite effects. The sustain of month order, PM10 minimum, PM2.5 minimum, and precipitation days in both regression models confirms the role of classic climate factors and illustrates a potential biological role of the air pollutants in the life cycle of mosquito vectors and dengue virus and possibly human immune status. Future DF prevention should concern the contribution of air pollution besides the classic climate factors.

Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has achieved rapid economic and technological growth at the cost of severe air pollution. The emerging Fintech, as the result of financial institutions' adapting to the latest digital technology, might be a solution to reduce air pollution. This paper investigates the impact of Fintech development on air pollution using a two-factor fixed effects model based on data for prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2017. The findings show that Fintech development can effectively reduce air pollution emissions, and this conclusion is proved to be robust throughout a series of tests. The mechanism analysis shows that Fintech reduces air pollution by promoting digital finance and green innovation.

Field measurements were conducted to assess the indoor air quality in kitchens using traditional stove without chimney, improved stove with chimney, and LPG stove in rural Hubei Province, China. Results showed that without cooking activity, concentrations of NO2, SO2, and CO in all kitchens met the national standard of China. On the other hand, PM2.5 in kitchens using LPG stove and traditional stove was slightly higher than the standard during the period without cooking activity. Cooking activity increased PM2.5 mass concentration and particle number concentration in all kitchens, especially in kitchen using traditional stove. With cooking activity, PM2.5 mass concentrations were well above the standard. Increase in CO, NO2, and SO2 concentrations during cooking was not as significant as PM2.5. Except for CO in traditional stove, mean concentrations of CO, NO2, and SO2 were below the standard even during cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle and industrial emissions are responsible for a considerable share of urban air pollution concentrations. We conducted a comparative study in Dalian, China and Faisalabad, Pakistan to reevaluate NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations. Our study was conducted over the course of one year at different stations in both cities, and measured values were compared with ambient air quality standards such as NEQS-Pakistan, NAAQSUSEPA, CNAAQS-China, and global standard WHO. The NO2 concentrations in Faisalabad varied from 185- 262 μg/m³, whereas it was in the range of 44-133 μg/m³ in Dalian. The SO2 concentration was found in the range of 66-190 μg/m³ and 56-128 μg/m³, while CO varied from 5.4-22.3 mg/m³ and 0.3-2.8 mg/m³, respectively, in Faisalabad and Dalian. The annual average NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations were below the permissible limits in Dalian; however, the measured values were considerably higher in Faisalabad. Our results are the first to compare air quality of two countries at different stations and highlight the possibility of reducing air pollution by comparing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the monitored data of references, EANET and the CMAQ (4.7.1) model scenario simulations, the annual average concentration of SO2 in China in the recent 10 years and the contribution of China's SO2 emissions to SO2 concentration and sulfur deposition at various sites in Japan downwind were analyzed. The results showed that from 2001 to 2009 annual average concentration of SO2 was 0-150 pg/m3 and showed a decreasing trend on the whole in China. The correlation coefficient of annual average concentration of SO2 at different sites in Japan and China's SO2 emissions was lower than that of annual average concentration and emission of SO2 in China's cities on the whole, showing that SO2 discharged in China had small impact on SO2 concentration in Japan. The contribution rate of China's SO2 emissions to annual average concentration of SO2 at various sites in Japan in 2010 was 7.5%-44.0%, averaging 22.6%; the annual average volume concentration of SO2 at different sites in Japan caused by China's SO2 emissions was 0-0.5 x10~9. The contribution rate of China's SO2 emissions to sulfur deposition at various sites in Japan in 2010 varied from 8.0% to 41.0%, averaging 22.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants in China have been regulated since 2005 by a mandatory installation of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) devices. In order to verify the effectiveness of FGD systems applied in power plants, Shanxi (a province well-known for the largest coal reserves in China) was selected, and the characteristic and evolution of SO2 densities over 22 regions with large coal-fired power plants during 2005-2012 were investigated by using the satellite remote sensing data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). A unit-based inventory was also employed to study the trend of SO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants in Shanxi. The results show that the operation of FGD systems was successful in reducing SO2 emissions from power plants during 2005-2010: the mean SO2 densities satellite-observed over those regions with power plants operated before 2005 showed a notable decrease of approximate 0.4 DU; the mean SO2 densities over other regions with power plants newly built behind 2006 did not show a statistical increasing trend overall; the mean SO2 density over the whole Shanxi also showed a moderate decline from 2008 to 2010. However, the polluted conditions over Shanxi during 2011-2012 rebounded and the declining trend in mean SO2 density over the whole Shanxi disappeared again. In comparison of unit-based emission inventory, the emissions calculated show a similar trend with SO2 densities satellite-observed during 2005-2010 and still maintain at a lower volume during 2011-2012. By investigating the developments of other emission sources in Shanxi during 2005-2012, it is considered that the rapid expansion of industries with high coal-consumption has played an important role for the increment rise of SO2 emissions. Lack of an independent air quality monitoring network and the purposeful reduced operation rate of FGD systems occurring in some coal-fired power plants have reduced the effectiveness of SO2 emission reduction policy applied in Shanxi. In view that the SO2 pollution in Shanxi has not been well ameliorated, more reasonable and mandatory policies, such as a national-wide independent monitoring network and installation of FGD systems in other large emission sources, should be pushed out in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An industrial demonstration unit using natural gas as a heat source was built to calcine the by-products of MgO wet flue gas desulfurization from power plants; influencing factors on the SO2 content in calciner gas were comprehensively analyzed; and an advantageous recycling condition of MgO and SO2 from by-products was summarized. Results showed that the SO2 content in the calciner gas was increased by more than 10 times under a lower excess air coefficient, a higher feed rate, a lower crystal water in by-products, and a higher feed port position. For the tests conducted under the excess air coefficient above and below one, the effect of the furnace temperature on the SO2 content in the calciner gas was reversed. Results of activity analysis indicate that particles of MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 900-1,000°C had a high activity. In contrast, due to the slight sintering, MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 1,100°C had a low activity. To recycle SO2 as well as MgO, a temperature range of 900-927°C for TE103 is proposed. These studies will prompt the desulfurization market diversification, reduce the sulfur's dependence on imports for making sulfuric acid, be meaningful to balance the usage of the natural resource in China, and be regarded as a reference for the development of this technology for other similar developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions and acid rain have been one of the most serious environmental problems in China. In order to address these problems, the Chinese government has shown much interest in SO2 emission trading scheme. In spite of the government's enthusiasm, full support from US government and international organisations, and overall success of the pilot projects in several local areas in China, SO2 emission trading has never been institutionalised in any of the Chinese provinces, and therefore, became virtually unavailable. Why did China fail to adopt and institutionalise the SO2 emission trading scheme? What are the factors that affect a country's policy innovation process? Based on the diffusion and innovation literature, it is argued that policy innovation is constrained by domestic institutional factors and that lack of domestic preconditions for effective diffusion and innovation makes policy adoption costly, and therefore, leads local governments to decide not to adopt the policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: China will soon be under the pressure of controlling the emissions of CO2 and various air pollutants simultaneously. Power sector as the largest contributor is the key sector to fulfill this task, which makes a power sector model with consideration of multiple air emissions control in great need for supporting policy making. This study built a multi- period optimization model for China s power sector with considerations of SO2, NOX and CO2 emission control and accounting of Hg emissions, based on six regional power grids with growing inter-connections. A case study of technology development and emission trends in China s power sector between 2010 and 2030 follows, using regional technology and fuel data in 2010, and advices for further model development come last. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aircraft measurements of SO2 and aerosol scattering coefficients (b sp) were made over Shenyang, an industrialized city in northeastern China in April 2005. Weather conditions were found to have strong impact on the area''s air quality. Between two flights on April 10 and 11, the SO2 loading increased by an order of magnitude within 24 h, from ∼0.1 DU (Dobson Unit) to ∼1 DU. Meteorological observations and back trajectory analyses suggest that anthropogenic pollutants emitted from the area accumulated under stagnant conditions induced by a mid-latitude cyclone approaching from the west. The observed rapid buildup demonstrates that strong local emissions can expose the populace to high pollutant levels under unfavorable weather conditions. Ångström exponents determined from the aircraft and ground-based sun photometers are significantly smaller over China than over the U.S., suggesting the prevalence of dust particles in northern China, particularly in spring. The coarse mode became more pronounced with altitude, indicating dust-dominant aerosol layers in the lower free troposphere, which should be accounted for in the satellite remote sensing of surface pollution over the region. Information on the vertical distribution of aerosols and precursor gases over China will also help better understand their transport as well as effects on weather and climate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Civil aviation in China has developed rapidly in recent years, and the effects of civil aviation emissions on the atmospheric environment should not be neglected. The establishment of emission inventories of atmospheric pollutants from civil aviation contributes to related policy formation and pollution control. According to the 2010’s China flight schedules, aircraft/engine combination information and revised emission indices from the International Civil Aviation Organization emission data bank based on meteorological data, the fuel consumption and HC, CO, NO x , CO2, SO2 emissions from domestic flights of civil aviation in China (excluding Taiwan Province) in 2010 are estimated in this paper. The results show that fuel consumption in 2010 on domestic flights in China is 12.12 million tons (metric tons), HC, CO, NO x , CO2 and SO2 emissions are 4600 tons, 39,700 tons, 154,100 tons, 38.21 million tons and 9700 tons, respectively. The fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of China Southern Airline are responsible for the largest national proportion of each, accounting for 27% and 25–28%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Western Developed countries established pollutant emission rights trading market to control pollution and got good results. China got the same result rapidly by command & control. Which mode is better? This paper contrasts the pollution control cases of U.S and China, and discusses the standard of pollution control mechanism selection. Emission trading market is man-made and cannot operate well without administrative order. Command & control can also lead low effective firms out of the industry. A conclusion is drawn that in the circumstance of market failure without non-mature environment for market, command & control mode can get high efficiency and low cost results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely accepted as one of main solutions to mitigate global warming in the world. However, the still-high cost of CCS is one of the major concerns, in particular in developing China. In the other hand, emission control of H2S and SO2 has already become the urgent need, and the reduction target has been set in the 11th Five-Year Plan of China. Therefore, co-storage of CO2+SO2 or CO2+H2S may be an effective way to reduce CCS cost, e.g. due to saving the de-sulphur device, and enable CCS to has an earlier deployment opportunity. In this paper, we try to, at first, reveal some key problems, i.e., trapping mechanism, injectivity and leakage risk, for co-injection and co-storage of CO2 and the strong acid SO2 into subsurface spaces in a certain gas field in China. The output of this gas field includes about 6.8% H2S and 4.6% CO2. Then, we want to insight into the possibilities and potentials of co-storage of CO2+SO2 by numerical studies. After widely referring all opened and published scientifical and technical literature, we develop a model to study a porous media system associated with the thermo-hydro-chemical coupling interactions. The hydrogeology and mineralogy of the injected formation are extracted from the historical materials of the gas field. We have performed several numerical simulations with consideration of a sandstone-clay sequence under acid-gas injection conditions. The clay formation is supposed as a sealed cap rock for the co-storage disposal system. The study examines the impact of SO2 co-injection on the pH of formation brine. Co-injection of CO2 with SO2 results in a larger and more strongly acidified zone, and alteration differs substantially from that caused by the injection of CO2 alone. The mineral alteration induced by injection of CO2 with SO2 leads to corresponding changes in porosity. Significant increases in porosity occur in the acidified zones where mineral dissolution dominates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The measurement of SO2, O3, NO, NO2, and NOy mixing ratios was conducted from Jul 28, 2008 to Sep 2, 2008 at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAP, CAS) station, which is 2km southwest to the Beijing National Stadium (Bird''s Nest/Olympic Stadium). Photochemical pollution was detected during the measurement on Aug 2, 2008, and the maximum hourly average [O3] reached 128ppbv, caused by both the local photochemical reactions and regional transportation of pollutants. The NOx Ozone Production Efficiency (OPE (NOx)) values were 6.9 and 20.2 on Aug 2 and Aug 24, 2008 respectively, which were the two days with highest O3 pollution. The OPE (NOx) of 6.9 on Aug 2 was within a typical range in city area, and it implied that the high O3 could be due to local sources. While OPE (NOx) of 20.2 on Aug 24 was larger than the typical value in the region, but lower than that of the surrounding clean area during 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony. It indicated that the pollution was because of regional transportation of pollutants. In addition, 60% of the extent of the Smog Production Model (SPM) data was less than 0.6 and the rest was slightly larger than 0.6, with maximum of 0.78. It indicated that the sensitivity of O3 generated was volatile organic compounds (VOCs) control during the observation period. The SPM results also implied that O3 product in high-O3 day is a transition state from VOCs sensitivity to NOx sensitivity. Lastly, the analysis of the wind direction and extent of SPM showed that the photochemical pollution of this region was mostly subject to the influence of southeastern air flow in the summer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent research has highlighted the substantial health-related costs of air pollution in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the potential threat from air pollution to HKSARs economic competitiveness. In order to address the air pollution problems, this paper seeks to analyse the individual contributions of major sulphur dioxide (SO2) sources in the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) (Pearl River Delta + HKSAR) on the air quality in the HKSAR. This study employed the coupling of the MM5/CALMET system with the CALPUFF, the multi-layer, non-steady-state puff dispersion model, where major power plants, marine vessels and vehicles, all in the PRDR, are taken into account. The observation data and simulation results at 11 Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (HKEPD) general (non-road-side) stations are analyzed. Urban (in-zone) and Rural (out-zone) stations are defined in order to examine the SO2 contribution of different emission sources in different regions of the HKSAR. The model results show that the contribution of the HKSAR marine sources is significant both in summer and in winter, especially for the locations around the in-zone stations (in general 60%, and 55% in summer and winter respectively). In addition, the contribution of the HKSAR power plants is slightly higher than that of the PRD power plants in early summer, with a contribution difference of up to 20% when the prevailing wind is from the south. However, in late summer, this situation reverses. In winter, the contribution of the PRD power plants is two to three times greater than that of the HKSAR power plants. Moreover, Yantian port affects the northern part of the HKSAR when a northeasterly wind dominates the HKSAR. In order to solve these air pollution problems, the main implication of these results suggests that the HKSAR government, in close co-operation with the Guangdong government, needs to take immediate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution resulting from the combustion of fossil fuel is an environmental topic receiving global attention. In China, rapid economic development followed the economic reforms of 1978, especially during the two decades between 1978 and 1997. Meanwhile, serious air pollution problems were left outstanding. In recent decades, due to the various air pollution control measures adopted by the Chinese government, Chinese air quality has been ameliorated gradually. However, some research concerning air pollution indicates that it is still a serious problem in some regions of China. For example, the regions of north, northeast, and northwest China exhibit inhalable particles surpassing the Grade II standards of the Ambient Air Quality Standard generally, while acid rain is an environmental problem that has existed for a long time in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and parts of southwest China. Therefore, this review is organized according to the topographical characteristics of China. Typical cities are chosen to represent different regions, and the aspects of air pollution in these regions are discussed. The current state of air pollution, control measures, and effects of these control measures in these areas are introduced in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Information on the vertical distribution of air pollution is important for understanding its sources and processes and validating satellite retrievals and chemical transport models. This paper reports the results of the measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and aerosol scattering coefficient (Bsp) obtained from several aircraft campaigns during summer and autumn 2007 in the north-eastern (NE), north-western (NW), and central-eastern (CE) regions of China. Their vertical profiles over the three regions with contrasting emission characteristics and climates are compared. Very high concentrations/values of SO2 and Bsp (with a value of up to 51 ppbv and 950 Mm−1, respectively) were recorded in the lower planetary boundary layer in CE China, indicating high SO2 emissions in the region. The SO2 column concentrations determined from the in-situ measurements were compared with Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) SO2 retrievals. The results show that the OMI data could distinguish the varying levels of SO2 pollution in the study regions, but appeared to have underestimated the SO2 column in the highly polluted region of CE China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we establish a number of environmental indices to rate the green efficiency of cities in China, while at the same time using them to discuss two problems in China: emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and population distribution. The indices used in this paper have never been implemented in the literature. From them, we can understand the level of environmental protection in China and be better equipped to improve the country's environmental pollution. We also use macroeconomic data in this paper, and draw valuable conclusions. The data cover 1998 to 2003. All nominal variables are transformed into real variables based on 1998 price levels using the GDP deflator. To the best of our knowledge, China's eastern cities have the most prosperous economies in China. However, their overall green efficiency value is inferior to that of the central cities. We further find that no city has a population that exceeds the optimal population target value. This is an astonishing finding. The eastern cities' emissions of SO2 are the highest and their additional population capacity is the lowest. The overall performance of the central cities of China is therefore superior to that of the eastern cities. Finally, we also find that the development between the eastern and western areas of China is balanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports altitude-resolved concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter up to 10 microns in diameter (PM10) in the planetary boundary layer of major urban centers during extreme pollution episodes. The concentration of SO2 was observed continuously from November 24, 2004, to December 4, 2004, in Beijing during the heating period. Fluorescence SO2 analyzers were used to measure the atmospheric SO2 concentrations. Four SO2 analyzers were placed at 4 different levels (8m, 47m, 120m, and 280m) of the 325-m high meteorological observation tower of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. A maximal SO2 concentration of 172.3ppb was measured during this pollution episode, and SO2 concentration increased with altitude and reached its maximal value at ∼50m. The study also analyzed the meteorological situation before, during, and after the pollution episode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study focuses on providing a direct insight into the process by which sulfate is formed on mineral dust surface in the actual atmosphere. Six sets of aerosol measurements were conducted in the outskirts of Beijing, China, in 2002–2003 using a tethered balloon. The mineralogy of individual dust particles, as well as its influence on the S (sulfur) loadings was investigated by SEM-EDX analysis of the directly collected particles. The mixed layer in the urban atmosphere was found to be quite low (500–600m), often appearing as a particle dense stagnant layer above the surface. It is suggested that mineral dust is a common and important fraction of the coarse particles in Beijing (35–68%), and that it is relatively enriched with Calcite (>28%). An exceptional amount of S was detected in the mineral particles, which can be explained neither by their original composition, nor by coagulation processes between the submicron sulfates and the dust. Heterogeneous uptake of gaseous SO2, and its subsequent oxidation on dust was suggested as the main pathway that has actually taken place in the ambient environment. The mineral class found with the largest number of particles containing S was Calcite, followed by Dolomite, Clay, Amphibole etc., Feldspar, and Quartz. Among them, Calcite and Dolomite showed distinctly higher efficiency in collecting sulfate than the other types. A positive correlation was found with the number of S containing particles and the relative humidity. Calcite in particular, since almost all of its particles was found to contain S above 60% r.h. On the other hand, the active uptake of SO2 by the carbonates was not suggested in the free troposphere downwind, and all the mineral classes exhibited similar S content. Relative humidity in the free troposphere was suggested as the key factor controlling the SO2 uptake among the mineral types. In terms of sulfate loadings, the relationship was not linear, but rather increased exponentially as a function of relative humidity. The humidity-dependent uptake capacity of mineral types altogether showed an intermediate value of 0.07 gSO42− g−1 mineral at 30% r.h. and 0.40 gSO42− g−1 mineral at 80%, which is fairly consistent with laboratory experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material exposure tests have been carried out to evaluate the relationship between air pollution and material damage, with the cooperation of researchers in Japan, China and Korea, since 1993. Test materials such as bronze, copper, marble, and steel have been exposed to both unsheltered and rain-sheltered outdoor conditions, with the simultaneous passive sampler measurement of SO2 and NO2 concentrations, at 17 separate sampling sites in East Asia. Meteorological data were gathered from the AWS in each country, and the chemical compositions of wet deposition analyzed by bulk sampling of the monthly rainfall. As a result, the corrosion rates of the test materials in ambient air were found to be in the order: carbon steel >marble >bronze &ges;copper. The corrosion rates of test materials in the unsheltered outdoor conditions were 2.28–6.24 times larger than those under the rain-sheltered conditions. The rates of corrosion were also found to be the highest in the heavily polluted areas of China, with these rates for the metal pieces generally being proportional to the SO2 concentration. With the two Korean sites, the test pieces at the Daegu site displayed higher rates of corrosion, possibly due to the higher SO2 concentration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emissions reduction in industrial processes, i.e. clean production, is an essential requirement for sustainable development. Fossil fuel combustion is the main emission source for gas pollutants, such as NOX, SO2 and CO2, and coal is now a primary energy source used worldwide with coal combustion being the greatest atmospheric pollution source in China. This paper analyzes flue gas cleaning by ammonia scrubbing (FGCAS) for power plants to remove gaseous pollutants, such as NOX, SO2 and CO2, and presents the conceptual zero emission design for power plants. The byproducts from the FGCAS process can be used in agriculture or for gas recovery. Experimental results presented for SO2 removal from the simulated flue gas in a continuous flow experiment, which was similar to an actual flue gas system, showed that the effectiveness of the ammonia injection or scrubbing depends on the temperature. The FGCAS process can effectively remove SO2, but the process temperature should be below 60 °C or above 80 °C for SO2 reduction by NH3 scrubbing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emission trading system is an effective market-oriented means to control pollutant emission, and reasonable initial allocation of emission rights is the premise of its smooth implementation. However, at present, the initial allocation of emission rights depends largely on the amount of emissions, which leads to weak positive guidance effect for enterprises. To explore the optimal initial allocation method of SO 2 emission rights, this paper takes 8 thermal power plants in Dalian, China, as the research objects to calculate the initial allocation of SO 2 emission rights, because SO 2 is the main cause of acid rain, which is one of the most serious air pollution in China, and thermal power plants are among the main SO 2 emitters. Firstly, an indicator system is established considering enterprise size, pollutant discharge, and social contributions, as well as pollution control capacity. Then, the combination weighting method is developed through integrating the subjective methods G1 and G2 with the objective ones, entropy and maximum deviation. The empirical results show that the enterprises with more desulfurization equipment or large heating supply are supposed to get more emission rights; the actual emission value of SO 2 in half of the enterprises exceeds the theoretical ones; SO 2 removal rate, desulfurization equipment quantity, and heating supply exert the most positive effects on the initial allocation of emission rights. The constructed model can be used as a reference for future research of initial allocation of other pollutants' emission rights. Also, the implications have been proposed for the government, industry, and enterprises., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are important atmospheric trace gases for determining air quality, human health, climate change, and ecological conditions both regionally and globally. In this study, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), total column nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were used from 2005 to 2020 to identify pollution hotspots and potential source areas responsible for air pollution in Jiangsu Province. The study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution and variability of NO2 and SO2, the SO2/NO2 ratio, and their trends, and potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis was performed to identify potential source areas. The spatial distributions showed higher values (>0.60 DU) of annual mean NO2 and SO2 for most cities of Jiangsu Province except for Yancheng City (<0.50 DU). The seasonal analyses showed the highest NO2 and SO2 in winter, followed by spring, autumn, and summer. Coal-fire-based room heating and stable meteorological conditions during the cold season may cause higher NO2 and SO2 in winter. Notably, the occurrence frequency of NO2 and SO2 of >1.2 was highest in winter, which varied between 9.14~32.46% for NO2 and 7.84~21.67% for SO2, indicating a high level of pollution across Jiangsu Province. The high SO2/NO2 ratio (>0.60) indicated that industry is the dominant source, with significant annual and seasonal variations. Trends in NO2 and SO2 were calculated for 2005–2020, 2006–2010 (when China introduced strict air pollution control policies during the 11th Five Year Plan (FYP)), 2011–2015 (during the 12th FYP), and 2013–2017 (the Action Plan of Air Pollution Prevention and Control (APPC-AC)). Annually, decreasing trends in NO2 were more prominent during the 12th FYP period (2011–2015: −0.024~−0.052 DU/year) than in the APPC-AC period (2013–2017: −0.007~−0.043 DU/year) and 2005–2020 (−0.002 to −0.012 DU/year). However, no prevention and control policies for NO2 were included during the 11th FYP period (2006–2010), resulting in an increasing trend in NO2 (0.015 to 0.031) observed throughout the study area. Furthermore, the implementation of China's strict air pollution control policies caused a larger decrease in SO2 (per year) during the 12th FYP period (−0.002~−0.075 DU/year) than in the 11th FYP period (−0.014~−0.071 DU/year), the APPC-AC period (−0.007~−0.043 DU/year), and 2005–2020 (−0.015~−0.032 DU/year). PSCF analysis indicated that the air quality of Jiangsu Province is mainly influenced by local pollution sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]