Title

Source apportionment of PM2.5 at urban and suburban areas of the Pearl River Delta region, south China - With emphasis on ship emissions

Authors

Tao, J ; Zhang, LM ; Cao, JJ ; Zhong, LJ ; Chen, DS ; Yang, YH; Chen, DH ; Chen, LG ; Zhang, ZS ; Wu, YF; Xia, YJ ; Ye, SQ; Zhang, RJ

Abstract

Daily PM_2.5 samples were collected at an urban site in Guangzhou in 2014 and at a suburban site in Zhuhai in 2014-2015. Samples were subject to chemical analysis for various chemical components including organic carbon (OC), element carbon (EC), major water-soluble inorganic ions, and trace elements. The annual average PM_2.5 mass concentration was 48 +/- 22 mu g m^-3and 45 +/- 25 mu g m^-3 in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, respectively, with the highest seasonal average concentration in winter and the lowest in summer at both sites. Regional transport of pollutants accompanied with different air mass origins arriving at the two sites and pollution sources in between the two cities caused larger seasonal variations in Zhuhai (>a factor of 3.5) than in Guangzhou (<a factor of 2.0). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis identified six and five major source factors for PM_2.5 in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, respectively. Ship emissions, a source factor previously ignored in making emission control policies in the Pearl River Delta region of south China, were among the top contributors to PM_2.5 at both sites, accounting for >17% of PM_2.5 mass concentrations.

Corresponding author

Cao Junji

Volume

574

Issue

Page

1559-1570

Pub year

2017

Publication name

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

Details

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716318770