Impact of urbanization level on urban air quality: A case of fine particles (PM2.5) in Chinese cities

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 194; pp. 163 - 170
• Main Authors: Han, Lijian, Zhou, Weiqi, Li, Weifeng, Li, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Air quality; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Belts; China; Chinese prefectures; Cities - statistics & numerical data; Coastal environments; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fine particulate matter (PM2.5); Guidelines; Humans; Particulate Matter - analysis; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Urbanization; Urbanization - trends; Asia; China; China, People's Rep., Sichuan Prov; Urbanization; Air pollution; Fine particulate matter (PM2.5); Chinese prefectures; Fine particulate matter (PM; Fine particle; Megacity; Aerosols; Air quality; ); Urban area; Anthropogenic factor; Fine particulate matter (PM(2.5))
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.07.022

We examined and compared PM2.5 concentrations in urban and the surrounding regions, and further investigated the impact of urbanization on urban PM2.5 concentrations at the Chinese prefectures. Annual PM2.5 concentrations in most prefectures were greater than 10 μg/m3, the air quality guideline of the World Health Organization. Those prefectures were mainly distributed along the east coast and southeast of Sichuan province; The urban PM2.5 concentrations (UrbanPM2.5) in 85 cities were greater than (>10 μg/m3) those in the surrounding area. Those cities were mainly located in the Beijing–Sichuan and Shanghai–Guangxi belts. In addition, UrbanPM2.5 was less than (<0 μg/m3) that in surrounding areas in only 41 prefectures, which were located in western China or nearby mega cities; Significant positive correlations were found between UrbanPM2.5 and urban population (R2 = 0.99, P < 0.05), and between UrbanPM2.5 and urban second industry fraction (R2 = 0.71, P < 0.05), suggesting that urbanization had considerable impact on PM2.5 concentrations. [Display omitted] •For the first time, examine the impact of urban PM2.5 on its surrounding area.•Most of the Chinese prefectures were above the AQG of WHO (10 μg/m3).•85 cities' PM2.5 concentration was larger than its surrounding area in east China.•41 cities' PM2.5 concentration was lower than its surrounding area at west China. For the first time, we examined the impact of urban PM2.5 on surrounding area; and found that urbanization affected urban PM2.5 concentrations.