Mineral dust and NOx promote the conversion of SO2 to sulfate in heavy pollution days

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 4172
• Main Authors: He, Hong, Wang, Yuesi, Ma, Qingxin, Ma, Jinzhu, Chu, Biwu, Ji, Dongsheng, Tang, Guiqian, Liu, Chang, Zhang, Hongxing, Hao, Jiming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 25.02.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/638/169/824; 704/172/169/895; Air Pollutants; Air pollution; China; Coexistence; Dust; Flue gas; Haze; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Motor vehicles; multidisciplinary; Nitric Oxide - chemistry; Nitrogen dioxide; Outdoor air quality; Science; Sulfates; Sulfates - chemistry; Sulfur dioxide; Sulfur Dioxide - chemistry; Synergistic effect; Vehicle emissions; China

Haze in China has been increasing in frequency of occurrence as well as the area of the affected region. Here, we report on a new mechanism of haze formation, in which coexistence with NOx can reduce the environmental capacity for SO 2 , leading to rapid conversion of SO 2 to sulfate because NO 2 an...