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Size-differentiated patterns of exposure to submicron particulate matter across regions and seasons in China
Abstract Air pollution in China has reached unprecedented levels due to rapid economic and industrial development. More than 90% of Chinese population experience higher health risks attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. Although evidence suggests that particle size may be an effect modifier on PM2.5-related health risks, few studies have explored this due to lack of size-resolved exposure data. In this study, we derive size-resolved particle effective radius of PM2.5 using theoretical relationships between aerosol microphysical characteristics and satellite optical measurements to explore the spatial variability and population exposure to ambient particle size. Applying this method to China in 2017, we observed annual mean effective radii between 0.3 and 1.3 μm with a mean average error of 0.1 μm. We find that 1% or less of the Chinese population was exposed to annual PM2.5 concentrations less than 10 μg/m3 and a mean particle effective radius greater than 0.7 μm (i.e. aerodynamic diameter of PM1). Spatially, the Centre economic region had the highest annual-mean PM2.5 exposures, where 90% of the population was exposed to concentrations higher than 50 μg/m3 and 98% was exposed to particles with mean radius below 0.5 μm. Temporally, although the highest PM2.5 concentrations were more likely to occur in winter, summertime was the season during which the highest percentage of the national population (86%) lived in the regions in which the fine fraction had the smallest mean particle radii (<0.5 μm). This study demonstrates the potential of remote sensing techniques to enable large-scale PM2.5 estimation, including concentrations and sizes. The revealed prevalence of exposure to PM1, and lack of particle size validation data, motivate further research to better understand size-resolved exposures and impacts of PM2.5 at population scales.
Highlights Satellite AOD and aerosol optical-mass relationships yield size-resolved exposure. Chinese population on average was exposed to submicron sized particles in 2017. Easterners more exposed to small particles, especially in warm seasons. Region with high mass concentration also had smallest mean particle size.
Size-differentiated patterns of exposure to submicron particulate matter across regions and seasons in China
Abstract Air pollution in China has reached unprecedented levels due to rapid economic and industrial development. More than 90% of Chinese population experience higher health risks attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. Although evidence suggests that particle size may be an effect modifier on PM2.5-related health risks, few studies have explored this due to lack of size-resolved exposure data. In this study, we derive size-resolved particle effective radius of PM2.5 using theoretical relationships between aerosol microphysical characteristics and satellite optical measurements to explore the spatial variability and population exposure to ambient particle size. Applying this method to China in 2017, we observed annual mean effective radii between 0.3 and 1.3 μm with a mean average error of 0.1 μm. We find that 1% or less of the Chinese population was exposed to annual PM2.5 concentrations less than 10 μg/m3 and a mean particle effective radius greater than 0.7 μm (i.e. aerodynamic diameter of PM1). Spatially, the Centre economic region had the highest annual-mean PM2.5 exposures, where 90% of the population was exposed to concentrations higher than 50 μg/m3 and 98% was exposed to particles with mean radius below 0.5 μm. Temporally, although the highest PM2.5 concentrations were more likely to occur in winter, summertime was the season during which the highest percentage of the national population (86%) lived in the regions in which the fine fraction had the smallest mean particle radii (<0.5 μm). This study demonstrates the potential of remote sensing techniques to enable large-scale PM2.5 estimation, including concentrations and sizes. The revealed prevalence of exposure to PM1, and lack of particle size validation data, motivate further research to better understand size-resolved exposures and impacts of PM2.5 at population scales.
Highlights Satellite AOD and aerosol optical-mass relationships yield size-resolved exposure. Chinese population on average was exposed to submicron sized particles in 2017. Easterners more exposed to small particles, especially in warm seasons. Region with high mass concentration also had smallest mean particle size.
Size-differentiated patterns of exposure to submicron particulate matter across regions and seasons in China
Liu, Ming (author) / Saari, Rebecca K. (author) / Zhou, Gaoxiang (author) / Liu, Xiangnan (author) / Li, Jonathan (author)
Atmospheric Environment ; 238
2020-06-25
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Assessment of population exposure to particulate matter pollution in Chongqing, China
| Online Contents | 2008
Assessment of population exposure to particulate matter pollution in Chongqing, China
| Online Contents | 2008