scholarly journals Use of a mobile laboratory to evaluate changes in on-road air pollutants during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
pp. 8247-8263 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wang ◽  
T. Zhu ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
S. Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Mobile Laboratory ◽  
The Road ◽  
On The Road

Abstract. China implemented systematic air pollution control measures during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and Paralympics to improve air quality. This study used a versatile mobile laboratory to conduct in situ monitoring of on-road air pollutants along Beijing's Fourth Ring Road on 31 selected days before, during, and after the Olympics air pollution control period. A suite of instruments with response times of less than 30 s was used to measure temporal and spatial variations in traffic-related air pollutants, including NOx, CO, PM1.0 surface area (S(PM1)), black carbon (BC), and benzene, toluene, the sum of ethylbenzene, and m-, p-, and o-xylene (BTEX). During the Olympics (8–23 August, 2008), on-road air pollutant concentrations decreased significantly, by up to 54% for CO, 41% for NOx, 70% for SO2, 66% for BTEX, 12% for BC, and 18% for SPM1, compared with the pre-control period (before 20 July). Concentrations increased again after the control period ended (after 20 September), with average increases of 33% for CO, 42% for NOx, 60% for SO2, 40% for BTEX, 26% for BC, and 37% for S(PM1), relative to the control period. Variations in pollutants concentrations were correlated with changes in traffic speed and the number and types of vehicles on the road. Throughout the measurement periods, the concentrations of NOx, CO, and BTEX varied markedly with the numbers of light- and medium-duty vehicles (LDVs and MDVs, respectively) on the road. Only after 8 August was a noticeable relationship found between BC and S(PM1) and the number of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). Additionally, BC and S(PM1) showed a strong correlation with SO2 before the Olympics, indicating possible industrial sources from local emissions as well as regional transport activities in the Beijing area. Such factors were identified in measurements conducted on 6 August in an area southwest of Beijing. The ratio of benzene to toluene, a good indicator of traffic emissions, shifted suddenly from about 0.26 before the Olympics to approximately 0.48 after the Olympics began. This finding suggests that regulations on traffic volume and restrictions on the use of painting solvents were effective after the Olympics began. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of air pollution control measures and identified local and regional pollution sources within and surrounding the city of Beijing. The findings will be invaluable for emission inventory evaluations and model verifications.

scholarly journals Use of a mobile laboratory to evaluate changes in on-road air pollutants during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 12857-12898 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wang ◽  
T. Zhu ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
S. Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Mobile Laboratory ◽  
The Road ◽  
On The Road

Abstract. China implemented systematic air pollution control measures during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and Paralympics to improve air quality. This study used an innovative mobile laboratory to conduct in situ monitoring of on-road air pollutants along Beijing's 4th Ring Road on 31 selected days before, during, and after the Olympics air pollution control period. A suite of instruments with response times of less than 30 s was used to measure temporal and spatial variations in traffic-related air pollutants, including NOx, CO, PM1.0 surface area (SPM1), black carbon (BC), and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m-, p-, and o-xylene (BTEX). During the Olympics (8–23 August 2008), on-road air pollutant concentrations decreased significantly by up to 54% for CO, 41% for NOx, 70% for SO2, 66% for BTEX, 12% for BC, and 18% for SPM1 compared to the pre-control period (before 20 July). Concentrations increased again after the control period ended (after 20 September), with average increases of 33% for CO, 42% for NOx, 60% for SO2, 40% for BTEX, 26% for BC, and 37% for SPM1. Variations in pollutants concentrations were correlated with changes in traffic speed and the number and types of vehicles on the road. Throughout the measurement periods, the concentrations of NOx, CO, and BTEX varied markedly with the numbers of light- and medium-duty vehicles (LDVs and MDVs, respectively) on the road. Only after 8 August was a noticeable relationship between BC and SPM1 and the number of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) found. Additionally, BC and SPM1 showed a strong correlation with SO2 before the Olympics, indicating possible industrial sources from local emissions as well as regional transport activities in the Beijing area. Such factors were identified in measurements conducted on 6 August in an area southwest of Beijing. The ratio of benzene to toluene, a good indicator of traffic emissions, shifted suddenly from about 0.26 before the Olympics to approximately 0.48 after the Olympics began. This finding suggests that regulations on traffic volume and restrictions on the use of painting solvents were effective after the Olympics began. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of air pollution control measures and identified local and regional pollution sources within and surrounding the city of Beijing. The findings will be invaluable for emission inventory evaluations and model verifications.

scholarly journals Ambient concentrations of aldehydes in relation to Beijing Olympic air pollution control measures

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 19737-19761 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Gong ◽  
T. Zhu ◽  
M. Hu ◽  
L. W. Zhang ◽  
H. Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Photochemical Reactions ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Beijing Olympics ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
Early Fall

Abstract. Aldehydes are ubiquitous constituents of the atmosphere. Their concentrations are elevated in polluted urban atmospheres. The present study was carried out to characterize three aldehydes of most health concern (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein) in a central Beijing site in the summer and early fall of 2008 (from June to October). Measurements were made before, during, and after the Beijing Olympics to examine whether the air pollution control measures implemented to improve Beijing's air quality during the Olympics had any impact on concentrations of the three aldehydes. Average concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein were 29.34 ± 15.12 μg/m3, 27.09 ± 15.74 μg/m3 and 2.32 ± 0.95 μg/m3, respectively, for the entire period of measurements, all being the highest among the levels measured in cities around the world in photochemical smog seasons. Among the three measured aldehydes, only acetaldehyde had a substantially reduced mean concentration during the Olympic air pollution control period compared to the pre-Olympic period. Formaldehyde and acrolein followed the changing pattern of temperature and were each significantly correlated with ozone (a secondary product of photochemical reactions). In contrast, acetaldehyde was significantly correlated with several pollutants emitted mainly from local emission sources (e.g., NO2, CO, and PM2.5). These findings suggest that local direct emissions had a larger impact on acetaldehyde than formaldehyde and acrolein.

Discussion on Air Pollution and its Control Measures

2014 ◽  
Vol 1010-1012 ◽  
pp. 839-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Hui Huang ◽  
Bin Gui
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Atmospheric Environment ◽  
Air Pollution Control

In recent years, China's air pollution control achieved great results, but for various reasons,the situation faced by the atmospheric environment in China is still very grim. Total emissions of air pollutants are high. It can be said that air pollution is still serious, it is still the major environmental problems we solved.

scholarly journals Air pollution control and decreasing new particle formation lead to strong climate warming

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 25991-26007 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Makkonen ◽  
A. Asmi ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
M. Boy ◽  
A. Arneth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Forcing ◽  
Year 2000

Abstract. The number of cloud droplets determines several climatically relevant cloud properties. A major cause for the high uncertainty in the indirect aerosol forcing is the availability of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), which in turn is highly sensitive to atmospheric new particle formation. Here we present the effect of new particle formation on anthropogenic aerosol forcing in present-day (year 2000) and future (year 2100) conditions. The total aerosol forcing (−1.61 W m−2 in year 2000) is simulated to be greatly reduced in the future, to −0.23 W m−2, mainly due to decrease in SO2 emissions and resulting decrease in new particle formation. With the total aerosol forcing decreasing in response to air pollution control measures taking effect, warming from increased greenhouse gas concentrations can potentially increase at a very rapid rate.

scholarly journals Using Costs and Health Benefits to Estimate the Priority of Air Pollution Control Action Plan: A Case Study in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 5970
Author(s):  
Hsin-Chih Lai ◽  
Min-Chuan Hsiao ◽  
Je-Liang Liou ◽  
Li-Wei Lai ◽  
Pei-Chih Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Kriging Method ◽  
Quality Modeling

A comparative analysis was conducted between the costs and health benefits of the Air Pollution Control Action Plan (APCAP), which can be implemented in any country to improve air quality and human health. In this study, air quality modeling was used to simulate several scenarios and implement the Kriging method to describe the PM2.5 reduction concentration instantly. Then, health benefits were estimated using the environmental benefit mapping and analysis program (BenMAP) with results from the air quality modeling and Kriging method. To estimate the priority of APCAP, 14 pollution control measures that cover point, mobile, and area sources of air pollution in Taiwan were analyzed. The results indicate that the health benefits of the Taiwan APCAP (TAPCAP) are generally greater than the technical costs. Thus, the implementation of this strategy may result in net benefits. In addition, the benefit-to-control cost ratio for health for the 14 pollution control measures was calculated. The results provide evidence to prioritize the implementation of air quality policies with a higher benefit-cost ratio.

The policy implementation strategies of county cadres: Political instrument and flexible local governance

2020 ◽  
pp. 0920203X2096823
Author(s):  
Gang Tian ◽  
Wen-Hsuan Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
The Political ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
Political Risks

Using the concept of ‘hedging’, we explore how local cadres in China deviate from central policies in order to serve local interests and, while doing so, avoid being called to account by their superiors. Political signals enable cadres to decide when to invest more resources into the implementation of certain policies. In this way, they optimize their performance and avoid the political risks involved in failing to carry out their designated tasks. This article uses county Y as an example in a discussion of county-level implementation of policies related to economic growth and air pollution control. We find that local cadres weaken the functions of the superior ‘special inspection team’ (专项督察组, hereafter inspection team), treating them as political instruments used by the central and local authorities to ensure a greater level of responsiveness at the grass roots. Information concerning the imminent arrival of an inspection team in their locality acts as a signal for cadres to allocate more resources to the enforcement of air pollution control measures, thus maximizing their performance in this area. Through this research, we have endeavoured to provide a deeper understanding of the operating logic of Chinese local governments and the behaviour of county cadres.

scholarly journals Effects of air pollution control measures on air quality improvement in Guangzhou, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 244 ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meifang Yu ◽  
Yun Zhu ◽  
Che-Jen Lin ◽  
Shuxiao Wang ◽  
Jia Xing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Air Quality Improvement

scholarly journals Investment perspectives on costs for air pollution control affect the optimal use of emission control measures

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-705
Author(s):  
Stefan Åström ◽  
Gregor Kiesewetter ◽  
Wolfgang Schöpp ◽  
Robert Sander ◽  
Sofia Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Emission Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Emission Control Measures

scholarly journals MAX-DOAS measurements of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> and HCHO in Nanjing and the comparison to OMI observations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Lok Chan ◽  
Zhuoru Wang ◽  
Aijun Ding ◽  
Klaus-Peter Heue ◽  
Yicheng Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
The Yangtze River Delta

Abstract. In this paper, we present long term observations of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) in Nanjing using a Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) instrument. Ground based MAX-DOAS measurements were performed from April 2013 to February 2017. The MAX-DOAS measurements of NO2 and HCHO vertical column densities (VCDs) are used to validate OMI satellite observations over Nanjing. The comparison shows that the OMI observations of NO2 correlate well with the MAX-DOAS data with Pearson correlation coefficient (R) of 0.91. However, OMI observations are on average a factor of 3 lower than the MAX-DOAS measurements. Replacing the a priori NO2 profiles by the MAX-DOAS profiles in the OMI NO2 VCD retrieval would increase the OMI NO2 VCDs by ~ 30 % with correlation nearly unchanged. The comparison result of MAX-DOAS and OMI observations of HCHO VCD shows a good agreement with R of 0.75 and the slope of the regression line is 0.99. We developed a new technique to assemble the source contribution map using backward trajectory analysis. The age weighted backward propagation approach is applied to the MAX-DOAS measurements of NO2 and HCHO to reconstruct the spatial distribution of NO2 and HCHO over the Yangtze River Delta during summer and winter time. The reconstructed NO2 fields show a distinct agreement with OMI satellite observations. However, due to the short atmospheric lifetime of HCHO, the backward propagated HCHO data does not show a strong spatial correlation with the OMI HCHO observations. The result shows the MAX-DOAS measurements are sensitive to the air pollution transportation in the Yangtze River Delta, indicating the air quality in Nanjing is significantly influenced by regional transportation of air pollutants. The MAX-DOAS data are also used to evaluate the effectiveness of air pollution control measures implemented during the Youth Olympic Games 2014. The MAX-DOAS data show a significant reduction of ambient aerosol, NO2 and HCHO (30 %–50 %) during the Youth Olympic Games. Our results provide a better understanding of the transportation and sources of pollutants in over the Yangtze River Delta as well as the effect of emission control measures during large international event, which are important for the future design of air pollution control policies.

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