Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Source apportionment and seasonal variation of PM2.5 carbonaceous aerosol in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region of China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The seasonal variation of PM2.5 carbonaceous aerosol was investigated in Beijing and Tangshan cities of China. The characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol (e.g., organic carbon, OC and elemental carbon, EC) under different weather conditions and their source apportionment were also examined. The annual average PM2.5 concentration in the study area reached 95.6–197.3 μg/m3, showing seasonal and spatial variation. The carbonaceous materials accounted for 17.3–21.2 % of the PM2.5, and they had a much higher content under haze weather condition. It was found that the PM2.5 contained more OC than EC. Principal component analysis (PCA) results indicated that the carbonaceous components came from mixed emission sources of coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and biomass burning. In Beijing, the vehicle emission made a contribution of 63.0 % to the carbonaceous components of PM2.5 in summer, which is higher than that in Tangshan. While in Tangshan, the coal combustion made a contribution of 30.3 %, which is much higher than that in Beijing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bond, T. C., Streets, D. G., Yarber, K. F., Nelson, S. M., Woo, J. H., & Klimont, Z. (2004). A technology-based global inventory of black and organic carbon emissions from combustion. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. doi:10.1029/JD003697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, A. J., Andrew, M. S., & Russell, A. G. (2003). Daily sampling of PM2.5 in Atlanta: results of the first year of the assessment of spatial aerosol composition in Atlanta study. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. doi:10.1029/JD002234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao, J. J., Wu, F., Chow, J. C., Lee, S. C., Li, Y., Chen, S. W., An, Z. S., Fung, K. K., Watson, J. G., Zhu, C. S., & Liu, S. X. (2005). Characterization and source apportionment of atmospheric organic and elemental carbon during fall and winter of 2003 in Xi’an, China. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 5, 3127–3137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, J. J., Lee, S. C., Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Ho, K. F., Zhang, R. J., Jin, Z. D., Shen, Z. X., Chen, G. C., Kang, Y. M., Zou, S. C., Zhang, L. Z., Qi, S. H., Dai, M. H., Cheng, Y., & Hu, K. (2007). Spatial and seasonal distributions of carbonaceous aerosols over China. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. doi:10.1029/JD008205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro, L. M., Pio, C. A., Harrison, R. M., & Smith, D. J. T. (1999). Carbonaceous aerosol in urban and rural European atmospheres: estimation of secondary organic carbon concentrations. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 2771–2781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. J., Zhi, G. R., Feng, Y. L., Fu, J. M., Feng, J. L., Sheng, G. Y., & Simoneit, B. R. T. (2006). Measurements of emission factors for primary carbonaceous particles from residential raw-coal combustion in China. Geophysical Research Letters. doi:10.1029/GL026966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, S. Y., Lang, J. L., Zhou, Y., Han, L. H., Wang, G., & Chen, D. S. (2013). A new monitoring-simulation-source apportionment approach for investigating the vehicular emission contribution to the PM2.5 pollution in Beijing, China. Atmospheric Environment, 79, 308–316.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, J. K., Heo, J. B., Ban, S. J., Yi, S. M., & Zoh, K. D. (2012). Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 aerosol in Incheon, Korea. Atmospheric Environment, 60, 583–592.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chow, J.C., Watson, J.G., Lowenthal, D.H., Solomon, P.A., Magliano, K.L., Ziman, S.D., Richards, L.W., (1993). PM10and PM2.5compositions in california san Joaquin valley. Aerosol Science and Technology,18, 105-128.

  • Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Lu, Z. Q., Lowenthal, D. H., Frazier, C. A., Solomon, P. A., Thuillier, R. H., & Magliano, K. (1996). Descriptive analysis of PM2.5 and PM10 at regionally representative locations during SJVAQS/AUSPEX. Atmospheric Environment, 30, 2079–2112.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Chen, L. W. A., Arnott, W. P., Moosmuller, H., & Fung, K. (2004a). Equivalence of elemental carbon by thermal/optical reflectance and transmittance with different temperature protocols. Environmental Science & Technology, 38, 4414–4422.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Kuhns, H., Etyemezian, V., Lowenthal, D. H., Crow, D., Kohl, S. D., Engelbrecht, J. P., & Green, M. C. (2004b). Source profiles for industrial, mobile, and area sources in the Big Bend Regional Aerosol Visibility and Observational study. Chemosphere, 54, 185–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, Y. L., Chen, Y. J., Guo, H., Zhi, G. R., Xiong, S. C., Li, J., Sheng, G. Y., & Fu, J. M. (2009). Characteristics of organic and elemental carbon in PM2.5 samples in Shanghai, China. Atmospheric Research, 92, 434–442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heo, J., Dulger, M., Olson, M. R., McGinnis, J. E., Shelton, B. R., Matsunaga, A., Sioutas, C., & Schauer, J. J. (2013). Source apportionments of PM2.5 organic carbon using molecular marker Positive Matrix Factorization and comparison of results from different receptor models. Atmospheric Environment, 73, 51–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Hou, X., Zhuang, G., Li, J., Wang, Q., Zhang, R., & Lin, Y. (2009). The sources and seasonal variations of organic compounds in PM2.5 in Beijing and Shanghai. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 62, 175–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, J., (2013). Study of regional emission sources classification and optimized reduction based on the total atmospheric pollutants quantity control. Ph.D. Thesis, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China, 128 pages (in Chinese).

  • Lang, J., Cheng, S., Wei, W., Zhou, Y., Wei, X., & Chen, D. (2012). A study on the trends of vehicular emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, China. Atmospheric Environment, 62, 605–614.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, H. J., & Turpin, B. J. (2002). Origins of primary and secondary organic aerosol in Atlanta: results of time-resolved measurements during the Atlanta supersite experiment. Environmental Science & Technology, 36, 4489–4496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, P., Hu, M., Deng, Z., Slanina, J., Han, S., Kondo, Y., Takegawa, N., Miyazaki, Y., Zhao, Y., & Sugimoto, N. (2009). Seasonal and diurnal variations of organic carbon in PM2.5 in Beijing and the estimation of secondary organic carbon. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. doi:10.1029/JD010902.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonati, G., Ozgen, S., & Giugliano, M. (2007). Primary and secondary carbonaceous species in PM2.5 samples in Milan (Italy. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 4599–4610.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Louie, P. K. K., Chow, J. C., Chen, L. W. A., Watson, J. G., Leung, G., & Sin, D. W. M. (2005). PM2.5 chemical composition in Hong Kong: urban and regional variations. Science of the Total Environment, 338, 267–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mauderly, J. L., & Chow, J. C. (2008). Health effects of organic aerosols. Inhalation Toxicology, 20, 257–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MEP (Ministry of Environmental Protection, China), (2014). Airquality of keyareas and 74 cities in 2013. http://www.mep.gov.cn/gkml/hbb/qt/201403/t20140325_269648.htm. Accessed 20 May 2014 (in Chinese).

  • Niu, Z., Wang, S., Chen, J., Zhang, F., Chen, X., He, C., Lin, L., Yin, L., & Xu, L. (2013). Source contributions to carbonaceous species in PM2.5 and their uncertainty analysis at typical urban, peri-urban and background sites in southeast China. Environmental Pollution, 181, 107–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pachauri, T., Satsangi, A., Singla, V., Lakhani, A., & Kumari, K. M. (2013). Characteristics and sources of carbonaceous aerosols in PM2.5 during wintertime in Agra, India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 13, 977–991.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pachon, J. E., Balachandran, S., Hu, Y., Weber, R. J., Mulholland, J. A., & Russell, A. G. (2010). Comparison of SOC estimates and uncertainties from aerosol chemical composition and gas phase data in Atlanta. Atmospheric Environment, 44, 3907–3914.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pathak, R. K., Wang, T., Ho, K. F., & Lee, S. C. (2011). Characteristics of summertime PM2.5 organic and elemental carbon in four major Chinese cities: implications of high acidity for water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Atmospheric Environment, 45, 318–325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plaza, J., Artinano, B., Salvador, P., Gomez-Moreno, F. J., Pujadas, M., & Pio, C. A. (2011). Short-term secondary organic carbon estimations with a modified OC/EC primary ratio method at a suburban site in Madrid (Spain). Atmospheric Environment, 45, 2496–2506.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, J. H., & Yang, L. Q. (2000). Variation characteristics of atmospheric aerosol optical depths and visibility in North China during 1980-1994. Atmospheric Environment, 34, 603–609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schauer, J. J., Kleeman, M. J., Cass, G. R., & Simoneit, B. R. T. (2002). Measurement of emissions from air pollution sources. 5. C-1-C-32 organic compounds from gasoline-powered motor vehicles. Environmental Science & Technology, 36, 1169–1180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, P. E., & Bowman, F. M. (2001). Estimated effects of temperature on secondary organic aerosol concentrations. Environmental Science & Technology, 35, 2129–2135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strader, R., Lurmann, F., & Pandis, S. N. (1999). Evaluation of secondary organic aerosol formation in winter. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 4849–4863.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turpin, B. J., & Huntzicker, J. J. (1991). Secondary formation of organic aerosol in the Los Angeles basin—a description analysis of organic and elemental carbon concentrations. Atmospheric Environment Part a-General Topics, 25, 207–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viana, M., Maenhaut, W., ten Brink, H. M., Chi, X., Weijers, E., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Mikuska, P., & Vecera, Z. (2007). Comparative analysis of organic and elemental carbon concentrations in carbonaceous aerosols in three European cities. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 5972–5983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viidanoja, J., Sillanpaa, M., Laakia, J., Kerminen, V. M., Hillamo, R., Aarnio, P., & Koskentalo, T. (2002). Organic and black carbon in PM2.5 and PM10: 1 year of data from an urban site in Helsinki, Finland. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 3183–3193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F., (2010). Study on the transboundary atmospheric transport and identification of sensitive emission sources. Ph.D. Thesis, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China, 136 pages (in Chinese).

  • Ward, T. J., & Lincoln, E. (2006). Concentrations of PM2.5-associated OC, EC, and PCDD/Fs measured during the 2003 wildfire season in Missoula, Montana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 115, 39–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, J. Z., Tung, J. W. T., Wu, A. W. M., Lau, A. K. H., Louie, P. K. K., & Fung, J. C. H. (2004). Abundance and seasonal characteristics of elemental and organic carbon in Hong Kong PM10. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 1511–1521.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., Shao, M., Zhang, Y.-H., Zeng, L.-M., He, L.-Y., Zhu, B., Wei, Y.-I., & Zhu, X.-L. (2007). Source profiles of particulate organic matters emitted from cereal straw burnings. Journal of Environmental Sciences-China, 19, 167–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, P., Dong, F., Yang, Y., He, D., Zhao, X., Zhang, W., Yao, Q., & Liu, H. (2013). Characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol in the region of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, China. Atmospheric Environment, 71, 389–398.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 51038001) and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology (No. Z131110002813116 & No. Z141108001314048). The authors greatly appreciated the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education and Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology for supporting this work. The authors are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Beijing on Regional Air Pollution Control, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100022, China

    Gang Wang, Shuiyuan Cheng, Jianlei Lang, Wei Wen, Xiaowen Yang & Liang Tian

  2. Environmental Engineering Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada

    Jianbing Li

  3. Collaborative Innovation Center of Electric Vehicles, Beijing, 100081, China

    Gang Wang, Shuiyuan Cheng, Jianlei Lang, Wei Wen, Xiaowen Yang & Liang Tian

Authors
  1. Gang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shuiyuan Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jianbing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianlei Lang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaowen Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Liang Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shuiyuan Cheng or Jianbing Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, G., Cheng, S., Li, J. et al. Source apportionment and seasonal variation of PM2.5 carbonaceous aerosol in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region of China. Environ Monit Assess 187, 143 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4288-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4288-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation