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A questionnaire which provides desirable reliability and validity has been previously developed to assess the disease awareness of diagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, conventional paper questionnaires often have disadvantages, including recall bias. To substantially improve this, we therefore aimed to explore the feasibility of developing a smartphone-based electronic version (e-version) based upon its original paper version and subsequently tested its validity, reliability, and applicability. A pilot study was conducted at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou, China, during August 2019. The e-version had identical content to the paper version and was adapted in terms of layout and assisted functions via the Wechat-incorporated Wen-Juan-Xing platform. Eligible patients with diagnosed CKD were invited to participate and were assigned the e-version. Randomly selected respondents received a test-retest of the same e-version 2 weeks after their first completion. In some instances, psychometric properties, including validity and reliability of the e-version, were examined. In others, its clinical application was also tested, which included comparisons among the clinical profiles of patients who had/had not responded to the questionnaire as well as patients with above or below average questionnaire scores. Of the 225 patients screened, 217 were enrolled to participate, with a response rate of 52.5%. Desirable reliability (Cronbachα = 0.962, ICC for total scores = 0.948), while good convergent validity (Cronbachα = 0.962) and low discriminant validity (one extracted component), of the e-version were detected. Performing inter-group comparisons highlighted statistical differences in terms of higher education level (z = −2.436, P = 0.015) and earlier CKD stages (z = −1.978, P = 0.048), with these patients often preferring to respond. No significant differences were detected in the clinical profiles between respondents who obtained an above or below average questionnaire score. The e-version is reliable but was not shown to be a valid approach. Audiences with higher education levels and less advanced disease condition may prefer to respond to the e-version. Adaptation of this e-questionnaire, from its original paper version, may not be a direct transition and meticulous modifications may be required during the transition process. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900024633). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An example was presented to demonstrate how to reconstruct the historical forest spatial patterns. • CA-Adaboost-ANN model can be used in reconstructing a region forest as well as a forest stand. • This novel method could be also used for prediction of future scenarios. Influenced by natural and man-made factors—especially urbanization—regional forest landscapes and structures are in a dynamic process of constant change. It is of great significance to reconstruct the historical pattern of forest landscapes and construct maps of forest landscapes for long time series. Based on the investigation of Fengshui and carbon sequestration forests in northern Guangzhou city, this study combined with an artificial neural network (ANN) improved using the AdaBoost algorithm to create a cellular automaton (CA) to reconstruct species compositions and spatial distributions of historical forests. The model had the best effect at a 30 m spatial scale. At 30 m spatial scale, compared with the actual forest community's spatial distribution, the overall accuracy of forest community distribution reconstructed by our retrospective model in 2000 was 89.17 %, the Lee Sallee index was 0.7972, and the landscape similarity index was 84.62 %. In 1990, the overall accuracy was 86.78 %, the Lee Sallee index was 0.7604, and the landscape similarity index was 80.84 %. This study provides an effective method for the reconstruction of forest vegetation patterns and the prediction of future scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers are recognized as an important pathway for transport of microplastics (MPs) from land to sea, but limited information is available on the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of riverine MPs from upper reaches to estuaries. Such information is critical for source apportionment and development of effective management measures for riverine MPs. To fill the knowledge gap, we investigated the occurrence of MPs in surface water along an urban river in Guangzhou, southern China in wet and dry seasons. The abundances of MPs from 16 sampling sites in the wet and dry seasons varied from 0.123 to 1.84 particles m−3 and from 0.046 to 4.21 particles m−3, respectively. The spatial distribution of MP abundances showed an increasing trend from upstream to midstream and a decreasing trend from midstream to downstream and estuaries. The abundances of MPs peaked at the midstream, which is surrounded by a highly urbanized region with high population density (∼2530 persons per km2). The large surface water runoff during the wet season elevated the MP abundance in riverine water, except for that flowing through the central urban area where the abundance of MPs collected in the dry season was higher than that in the wet season. This was mainly ascribed to the large input from extensive anthropogenic activities and slow water flow rate in urban areas. The estimated monthly riverine MP fluxes from Humen, Hongqili, and Jiaomen were 7.42, 2.38, and 2.3 billion particles, respectively, in the wet season, and 0.86, 0.71, and 0.19 billion particles, respectively, in the dry season. An increase of riverine MP fluxes from Humen, Hongqili, and Jiaomen in the past three years was evident. The results from the present study provide valuable information for source apportionment of riverine MPs and support the initialization of possible MPs controlling measures. [Display omitted] • The main polymer types of microplastics (MPs) were polypropylene and polyethylene. • The MP abundances ranged in 0.123–1.84 and 0.046–4.21 particles m−3 in wet and dry season, respectively. • The maximum abundance of MPs in the Pearl River appeared in the urban area. • The spatial variation of MPs is more obvious in dry season than that in wet season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal exposure to multiple organic contaminants (OCs) is a public concern because of the adverse effects of OCs on early life development. Infant hair has the potential to be used as an alternative matrix to identify susceptible fetuses, owing to its reliability, sensitivity, and advantages associated with sampling, handling, and ethics. However, the applicability of infant hair for assessing in utero exposure to OCs is still limited. In this study, 57 infant hair samples were collected in Guangzhou, South China, to evaluate the levels and compositions of typical OCs in the fetus. Most of the target OCs were detected in infant hair, with medians of 144 μg/g, 17.7 μg/g, 192 ng/g, 46.9 ng/g, and 1.36 ng/g for phthalate esters (PAEs), alternative plasticizers (APs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), respectively. Meanwhile, paired maternal hair (0–9 cm from the scalp) was collected to examine the associations between maternal and infant hair for individual compounds. Low-brominated PBDEs tended to deposit in infant hair, with median concentrations approximately two times higher than those in maternal samples. Levels of PBDEs and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) in paired maternal and infant hair showed strong positive correlations (p < 0.05), while most plasticizers (PAEs and APs) were poorly correlated between paired hair samples. Exposure sources were responsible for the variation in correlation between OC levels in the paired infant and maternal samples. Crude relationships between fetal exposure to OCs and birth size were examined using the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model. BDE-28 was found to be adversely associated with the birth size. This study provides referential information for evaluating in utero exposure to OCs and their health risks based on infant hair. [Display omitted] • PAEs, APs, OPFRs, PBDEs, and OCPs were examined in paired infant and maternal hair for the first time. • Low-brominated PBDEs had higher deposition in infant hair than that in maternal hair. • Infant hair can provide long-term exposure information for low-brominated PBDEs and p,p'-DDE. • Higher BDE-28 levels in infant hair were associated with lower birth sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the effects of airborne particulates of diameter ≤ 1 µm (PM 1), airborne particulates of diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM 2.5) and airborne particulates of diameter ranges from 1 to 2.5 µm (PM 1–2.5) on incidence of hyperuricemia are limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1–2.5 and hyperuricemia among male traffic officers. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1460 traffic officers without hyperuricemia in Guangzhou, China from 2009 to 2016. Exposures of PM 1 and PM 2.5 were estimated with a spatiotemporal model. PM 1–2.5 concentrations were calculated by subtracting PM 1 from PM 2.5 concentrations. Cox's proportional hazards regressions models were used to examine the association between PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1–2.5 and hyperuricemia, adjusted for potential confounders. Associations between PM 1 , PM 2.5, and PM 1–2.5 and serum uric acid (SUA) levels were evaluated with multiple linear regression models. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hyperuricemia associated with 10 μg/m3 increment in PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1–2.5 were 1.67 (95% CI:1.30–2.36), 1.49 (95% CI: 1.27–1.75), and 2.18 (95% CI: 1.58–3.02), respectively. The SUA concentrations increased by 12.23 μmol/L (95% CI: 5.91–18.56), 6.93 μmol/L (95% CI: 3.02–10.84), and 8.72 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.76–16.68) per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1–2.5 , respectively. Stratified analyses indicated the positive associations of PM 2.5 and PM 1–2.5 with SUA levels were stronger in non-smokers, and PM 1 , PM 2.5, and PM 1–2.5 with SUA levels were stronger in non-drinkers. Long-term PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1–2.5 exposures may increase the risk of hyperuricemia and elevate SUA levels among male traffic officers, especially in non-smokers and non-drinkers. • Evidence on the effects of PM exposure on incidence of hyperuricemia is limited. • PMs were associated with incidence of hyperuricemia and elevated SUA levels. • Non-drinkers and non-smokers are found as sensitive to the adverse effect of PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-size green spaces contain convenient service capabilities for urban residents and satisfy the daily needs of citizens for high-quality ecological products. A greenway is a kind of linear green space, which can create a beautiful and livable environment in a high-density urban area. This study explored whether the services provided by the greenway can meet the daily needs of urban residents for green space in Guangzhou, a mega city in south China. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and the entropy weight (EW) method, both the coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation analysis were adopted to quantify and determine the coordination degree of greenway service supply and public demand in Guangzhou. The results showed that the comprehensive score of the greenway service supply (GSS) subsystem and the public demand (PD) subsystem in Guangzhou was 0.3865 ± 0.08 and 0.3778 ± 0.03 (mean±s.e., n = 11), respectively. The GSS subsystem score was slightly higher than that of PD subsystem (P > 0.05), indicating that the two subsystems had no significant differences. The supply and demand subsystem of ten districts (excluding Conghua) in Guangzhou achieved different levels of coordination, and the average coupling coordination degree was 0.5885, suggesting that the districts were barely balanced at the city level. The Moran's I value was 0.580, indicating that the coupling coordination degree had significant positive global spatial autocorrelation and showed a spatial agglomeration effect. Furthermore, the local Moran's I spatial autocorrelation showed that three districts (i.e., Yuexiu, Haizhu and Liwan) formed a high supply-high demand cluster and a spatial difference was detected when coupling the GSS and PD in Guangzhou. Therefore, we proposed the differentiated optimization strategies based on the results of the coupling coordination degree and the development status of each district and the entire city. This knowledge can better guide the subsequent construction and development of greenway in Guangzhou and may be useful for adjacent cities in Asia-Pacific region. • Greenway contributes multidimensional services for urban ecosystems in terms of ecology, society and culture. • Supply- and demand-side of greenway service in Guangzhou is barely balanced at the city level but uneven between urban and suburban areas. • Experience of urban greenway construction in Guangzhou may refer to adjacent cities in Asia-Pacific region and help to achieve SDGs of UN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing masks to study and work places has become a daily protective measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the summer of 2021, environmental parameters were monitored, and students in a university library in Guangzhou, China, were surveyed to analyze the possible symptoms of wearing masks for a long time, and to assess the sensitivity of various body parts to the environmental parameters. Concurrently, the preference of subjects wearing masks for various environmental parameters was also analyzed. Additionally, the relationship between thermal sensation and thermal index was analyzed to identify acceptable and comfortable temperature ranges. The expected duration of wearing masks was counted. Subjects wearing masks had greater requirements for environmental comfort, and reported increased thermal discomfort of the face and head, compared to those without masks. More than 70% of the subjects wearing masks reported that they experienced discomfort on their faces. Among the subjects who experienced discomfort, 62.7% reported that facial fever was the main symptom; while some reported symptoms of dyspnea (25.4%) and rapid heartbeat (9.1%). More than 75% of the subjects were expected to wear masks for 2.0 h or less. Evaluation of environmental thermal sensation, including overall, facial, and head thermal sensation, differed among subjects who wore and did not wear masks. The indexes of neutral Operative temperature/Standard Effective Temperature (T op / SET*) and preferred T op / SET* were lower among subjects with masks than among those without masks. The neutral T op / SET* deviation was 0.3 °C, and the preferred T op / SET* deviation was 0.5 °C. Additionally, the acceptable and comfortable temperature zones differed between the two cases. The subjects who wore masks preferred colder temperatures. These findings indicated that the environmental parameters should be adjusted to improve the thermal comfort of the human body while wearing masks in work or study places. • Environmental data were monitored and students surveyed. • The relationship between thermal sensation and thermal comfort index was analyzed. • More than 70% of the subjects wearing masks thought their faces were uncomfortable. • Subjects wearing masks preferred colder temperatures. • Environmental settings should be adjusted to improve thermal comfort for mask-wearers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been extensively reported in urban areas and at e-waste recycling sites in coastal China. However, data are scarce in northern China and are not available in rural areas at all. In addition, it is often believed that air concentrations in rural areas are lower than those in urban areas without distinguishing rural residential areas and open fields. In this study, air samples were collected at 17 sites covering urban and rural (residential and open field) areas in northern China using active samplers. With BDE-209 dominated in all congeners, the average concentrations of BDE-209 (41 ± 72 pg/m3) and other 13 PBDEs (16 ± 12 pg/m3) were significantly lower than those found in south China, such as in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. On average, the total PBDE concentrations at the urban sites were 2.2 and 2.9 times of those at the rural residential and field sites, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Air samples of a municipal solid waste power plant were collected for the investigation from chimney, discharge workshop, boundary site and downwind receptor sites during regular operational period as well as overhaul period. In the regular operational period, 29 VOC species were detected from the discharge workshop and 25 VOC species from the plume of chimney. Average total VOC concentration at the discharge workshop site was 57.70±19.55 μg/m3 which was primarily composed of aromatic compounds and alkanes, but it was up to 270.63±2.84 μg/m3 in the plume of chimney which mainly included aromatic compounds and halohydrocarbons. In the overhaul period, average total VOC concentration was 59.70±0.91 μg/m3 in the discharge workshop and 326.35±151.68 μg/m3 in the chimney. Aromatics, halohydrocarbons and alkanes were indentified as the significant VOC fingerprints among which chlorobenzene and tetrachloroethylene were two unique VOC molecular markers of the power plant. Moreover, the VOC emission inventory of Chinese MSWI power plant was estimated approximately, it indicated that annual emission amount of the VOCs from the nationwide MSWI power plants reached 38.6tons in 2005 and would rise to 81.80 tons in the end of 2010. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The outdoor mean radiant temperature (MRT) has been used as an indicator to characterize radiation in an outdoor thermal environment. To investigate outdoor MRT, the cost-effective and portable black-globe thermometer method has commonly been used, though its shortcomings have been noted, such as limited accuracy and environmental applicability. The objective of this paper is to evaluate MRT estimation results of the black-globe thermometer method and upper and lower hemispheric radiation method through the MRT results of the six-directional radiation method as a benchmark for three open sites with different underlying surfaces in a subtropical city. The hourly diffuse solar radiation model applicable to the subtropical region was further explored through statistical evaluation. Numerous findings were noteworthy: (i) the different values of albedo of the materials of underlying surfaces critically affected the long-wave radiation environment in the corresponding sites, which in turn led to differences in the MRT across the sites; (ii) the Orgill model exhibited the highest accuracy in characterizing the diffuse solar radiation for both hourly and minutely data; (iii) the upper and lower hemispheric radiation method registered significantly lower deviations for the MRT estimation results than the black-globe thermometer method, and (iv) the MRT results with the Orgill model were closer to the benchmark values than those with the measured data. In general, the upper and lower hemispheric radiation method has demonstrated accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and environmental applicability, reflecting its appropriateness for observational studies on subtropical outdoor thermal environments. • Underlying surfaces varied in daytime long-wave mean radiant temperatures (MRTs). • Orgill model outdid empirical models in gauging Guangzhou's diffuse solar radiation. • Upper and lower hemispheric measurements outperformed black-globe thermometer ones. • Despite lacking observed solar data, the model's MRT deviations were not elevated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deficiency of effective biomarker for the toxic effects of water pollutants greatly limits the application of biological monitoring. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of circulating exosomes of indigenous fish acting as biomarker for the ecotoxicity effect of water environment. The Helong Reservoir in Guangzhou, China, was chosen as the investigating field, of which the water quality belongs to Class V (2013) (GB 3838-2002, China). The clean drinking water source of the upper reaches of the Liuxihe Reservoir was selected as the control. Indigenous fishes including Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), Labeo rohita (Rohu), Carassius auratus (Crucian carp) were sampled during the period from July 2020 to April 2021. Circulating exosomes of fish samples were isolated by using ultracentrifugation, characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and quantified by using bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. Oxidative stress, DNA and chromosome damage in liver, kidney, brain, gill and blood of fish samples were measured. The results showed that there were significant differences in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, DNA and chromosome damage in fish samples between the Helong Reservoir and the control. Interestingly, there were also significant differences in circulating exosome levels of fish samples between them. Our data suggested that circulating exosome level of indigenous fish may be a novel biomarker for the ecotoxicity effects of water environment. [Display omitted] • Circulating exosomes of indigenous fish were isolated, characterized and quantified. • Oxidative stress, genetoxic DNA and chromosome damage of fish samples were analyzed. • Circulating exosome levels were consistent with the oxidative stress and genotoxic effects. • Circulating exosome levels may be novel biomarker for ecotoxic effects of water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examines the current prospects for and obstacles facing the implementation of social impact assessment (SIA) and participatory planning in the People''s Republic of China. During the past two decades, rapid urbanisation and the conversion of rural land for urban development have led to numerous social conflicts and tensions between the Chinese government and its people. SIA and public participation in development decisions have received increasing attention from the Chinese authorities as possible ways to tackle the problem. Based on a Guangzhou case study, this paper argues that the assessment and mitigation of adverse impacts on the community from urban development have been carried out with different objectives, core values and principles when compared with those in Western societies. It concludes that the poor prospects of SIA and collaborative planning in China lie not only in the weak framework for environmental legislation, but also in all institutions concerning state–society relations, the socialist governing ideology and traditional Chinese culture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BackgroundUmbilical cord blood (UCB) is an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for transplantation of patients with hematologic malignancies or hereditary diseases.MethodsWe developed a provincial UCB bank in Guangzhou, China, using good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures to address donor eligibility, collection, characterization, processing, storage and release from quarantine. The banking activities were analyzed.ResultsFrom June 1998 to May 2005, 8623 UCB units of Han ethnic origin were collected; 4147 (48.1%) were stored, while 4476 (51.9%) were discarded as a result of pre-determined exclusion criteria. A median volume of 95.5 mL (range 60–227.7) and 1.2×109 (0.8–9.3) nucleated cells were collected. The cell viability was 97.8% (90–100%). The CD34+ cell count of 3691 (89.0%) UCB units was 5.2×106 (0.3–131.6) and clonogenic assays of 4036 (97.3%) UCB units demonstrated 9.8×105 (0.04–135.8) CFU-GM, 0.3×105 (0.0–18.6) CFU-GEMM and 8.8×105 (0.0–74.2) BFU-E. A total of 0.4% (15/3863) UCB derived from babies known to have health problems at age 6 months was discarded. Up to May 2005, 151 units were issued for transplantation to 127 patients [90 (70.9%) children and 37 (29.1%) adults]. The infused nucleated cells in unrelated single-unit recipients were 3.4×107/kg (1.7–14.9) for adults (n=19) and 5.7×107/kg (2.0–20.5) for children (n=71), respectively. The numbers of days for the engraftment of neutrophils among 65 children and 22 adults were 17 (7–41) and 20 (10–42), respectively.DiscussionData of this study show that stringent procedures and comprehensive policies are requisite for pursuing the banking and release of quality UCB for successful transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's ongoing urbanization has profoundly reshaped local governance with an increasing emphasis on reducing urban-rural inequalities through public investment in the rural areas in order to enhance the wellbeing of villagers. Drawing from more than one decade of intensive field research in a peri-urban area of Guangzhou, our study elucidates how the process of village urbanization has developed into a tri-partite partnership between the local state, the village organizations and the villagers in village asset management and welfare provision. This collaborative model presents an alternative approach to the top-down, state-led urbanization model which has notoriously led to landless villagers and economic dispossession in village urbanization. It also differs from the bottom-up, village corporatist model which tends to oppose integrated urban-rural development. This study attempts to conceptualize the delicate interdependency of the local state, the village collectives and villagers. Our findings offer new insights into the restructuring of state-village relations and explain its implications for community capacity building in periurban China. • Top-down, state-led approach or bottom-up, village corporatist model cannot fully explain China's rural urbanization. • A new coordinate approach driven by a tri-partite partnership is emerging from urban transition of rural villages. • Interdependency of the local state, the collectives and the villagers is a key success factor in China's urbanization. • Top-down local state interventions and bottom-up initiatives complementary rather than substitutes. • Seeking a power balance and enhancing self-governance are essential for the continual success of the coordinative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy consumption of three lines and a station of Guangzhou Metro is revealed. • The prediction of electricity consumption of urban rail transit is conducted. • The performances of the BNFR and SVR models are compared. • The SVR model is superior to the BNFR model in terms of accuracy. Predicting the energy consumption of urban rail transit is conducive to reducing energy consumption in the subway system. Therefore, binary nonlinear fitting regression (BNFR) and support vector regression (SVR) models are developed to predict total electricity, traction electricity, and heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system electricity consumption in subway lines as well as the electricity consumption of chillers in a subway station. The two models are compared in terms of accuracy, and the results demonstrate that the SVR model is superior to the BNFR model. The prediction accuracies of traction electricity and total electricity consumption in subway lines are high. By contrast, the prediction accuracy of the HVAC system electricity consumption in subway lines is low. This is due to numerous factors aside from outdoor temperature, operation mileages, and passenger flow, which can influence the HVAC system electricity. Thus, the influencing factors should further be investigated to increase the prediction accuracy. The electricity consumption of chillers in subway station can be predicted with the comprehensive consideration of indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity levels, passenger flows, timetable of trains, power of new draught fans, and chilling of strong electricity rooms (SERs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new type of pollutant, microplastics are of emerging widespread concern, while amount of research done in freshwater environments and organisms is litter compared to that in marine. Following this reality, the categories of MPs in two economic freshwater fish at 25 sites from 11 cities in the north and west rivers of Guangdong province were documented. Here, 76 individuals belong Oreochromis niloticus and Cirrhinus molitorella were investigated and microplastics were found in the GITs of 43.4% and gills of 25%. The average abundances of microplastics have significant difference between Oreochromis niloticus (0.015 items/ g) and Cirrhinus molitorella (0.031 items/g), while no difference by individual (~1.9 items). The plastics were dominated by white in color (61%), fragment in shape (67%), and lass than 1 mm in size (74%). The spatial distribution of microplastics revealed that there are significant differences between different cities in average abundances, and the highest average abundances of MPs were found in Zhanjiang city (4.25 items/individual) and Guangzhou city (0.044 items/g), respectively. Our results fully proved that the microplastics was widely ingested by wild fish species and suggested that the abundance and distribution of microplastics are positively related with the development of economy, tourism, industry, agriculture, and fishery. ga1 • The color, shape and size of MPs were mostly in white, fragment, and < 0.5 mm. • The abundance and spatial distribution of MPs have significant regional specificities. • The extensive of MPs in wild fish reflecting the universality of environmental MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The correlations between O 3 , environmental/meteorological factors were investigated. • Air temperature was the primary factor affecting O 3 concentration with the significant positive correlation. • The concentrations of CO, relative humidity and NO 2 were negatively correlated with O 3. • Precipitation exhibited positive correlation with ozone. • The quantitative-relationship curve between economic growth and ozone shows a U-shaped trend. Ozone has become the primary air pollutant in the subtropical regions (i.e., Guangzhou, China). This significantly hinders the sustainable development of cities. The purpose of this work was to find out the main influencing factors of ozone, then put forward feasible control strategies. We first analyzed the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of ozone in 2016–2018. The effects of environmental factors (e.g., CO) and meteorological factors (e.g., temperature) on ozone were investigated comprehensively. Furthermore, the relationship between economic growth and ozone in Guangzhou was analyzed. There were 48 days with excessive ozone in 2017. Ozone exceeding rate displayed an "M" curve. Moreover, the number of months with excessive ozone increased each year. About the influential factors, temperature was the primary factor affecting ozone with a significant positive correlation. CO, relative humidity, and NO 2 were negatively correlated with ozone. Because of the "contemporaneous rain and heat" climate, precipitation exhibited a positive correlation with ozone. The quantitative-relationship curve between economic growth and ozone displayed U-shaped trend. The proposed plans for ozone control could contribute to the sustainable development of Guangzhou through source control, departmental coordination, and government policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]