Regional transport characteristics of PM pollution events in Beijing during 2018-2021.

Although air pollutant emissions have sharply reduced in recent years, the occurrence of PM pollution events remains an intractable environmental problem in Beijing, and regional transport is the key influence factor. However, it has been difficult to identify regional transport characteristics and the main contributors to pollution events in recent years. In this study, the relative contribution of regional transport was quantified (61.

An investigative review of the expanded capabilities of thermal/optical techniques for measuring carbonaceous aerosols and beyond.

Carbonaceous aerosols primarily comprise organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC). Thermal-optical analysis (TOA) is the most commonly used method for separating carbonaceous aerosols into OC and EC (BC is referred to as elemental carbon EC, in this method). Advances in hardware design and algorithms have expanded the capabilities of TOA beyond just distinguishing OC and EC.

Exploring plastic biofilm formation and Escherichia coli colonisation in marine environments.

Microorganisms, including potential pathogens, can colonise plastic surfaces in aquatic environments. This study investigates the colonisation of plastic pellets by Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a proxy for faecal pathogens in aquatic environments.

Regulatory Insights for On-Board Monitoring of Vehicular NOx Emission Compliance.

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) have adverse effects on human health and the environment. On-board monitoring (OBM), which can continuously collect vehicle performance and NOx emissions throughout the operation lifespan, is recognized as the core technology for future vehicle in-use compliance, but its large-scale application has not been reported. Here, we utilized OBM data from 22,520 HDDVs in China to evaluate their real-world NOx emissions.

[Analysis of the Jumping Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Ozone Pollution in Beijing].

Based on environmental monitoring data and meteorological observation data from 2016 to 2022 in Beijing, combined with backward trajectory clustering and potential source area contribution analysis, the characteristics, meteorological impacts, and potential source areas of ozone (O) pollution were analyzed. The results showed that there was a total of 41 O pollution processes with jumping characteristics in Beijing from 2016 to 2022, with an average of 5.9 times a year.

A review of quantification methods for light absorption enhancement of black carbon aerosol.

Black carbon (BC) is a distinct type of carbonaceous aerosol that has a significant impact on the environment, human health, and climate. A non-BC material coating on BC can alter the mixing state of the BC particles, which considerably enhances the mass absorption efficiency of BC by directing more energy toward the BC cores (lensing effect). A lot of methods have been reported for quantifying the enhancement factor (E), with diverse results.

Occurrence and ecological risk of PAHs in urban road runoff in Beijing.

The occurrence and ecological risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different types of urban road runoff in Beijing during two typical rainfall events were studied. The average concentration of PAHs in road runoff particulate was in the order of Guanyuanqiao Road (ring road, 15,175 ng/L) > Huayuanqiao Road (primary road, 4,792 ng/L) > Dongcheng Alley (alley, 4,774 ng/L) > Nansihuan Viaduct (viaduct, 770 ng/L), much higher than dissolved PAHs. The total concentration of ∑16PAHs decreased with runoff scouring.

[Characteristics of Atmospheric Dust Fall Pollution and Its Chemical Composition and Mass Reconstruction in Mentougou District of Beijing].

To study the characteristics of atmospheric dust fall pollution in Mentougou District of Beijing, the monthly average monitoring results of 57 atmospheric dust fall samples from two state-controlled ambient air stations in Mentougou District from 2018 to 2022 were collected, and the atmospheric dust fall pollution status and its time variation characteristics in Mentougou District were analyzed. In order to explore the characteristics of chemical components of atmospheric dust fall and the results of quality mass reconstruction and their sources, 57 dust fall samples were collected using the active suction method at the Sanjiadian State-controlled Ambient Air Station. The mass concentration of dust fall and its chemical components were measured, the characteristics of chemical components in atmospheric dust fall were studied, and the mass reconstruction of the main components of atmospheric dust fall was performed using particle mass reconstruction technology.

Top-Down Effect of Arthropod Predator Chinese Mitten Crab on Freshwater Nutrient Cycling.

Aquatic litter decomposition is highly dependent on contributions and interactions at different trophic levels. The invasion of alien aquatic organisms like the channeled apple snail () might lead to changes in the decomposition process through new species interactions in the invaded wetland. However, it is not clear how aquatic macroinvertebrate predators like the Chinese mitten crab () will affect the nutrient cycle in freshwater ecosystems in the face of new benthic invasion.

[Pollution Characteristics and Factors Influencing the Reduction in Ambient PM in Beijing from 2018 to 2020].

Air quality data from 33 environment sites and five regional sites from 2018 to 2020, as well as meteorological data, were used to research PM variation,spatial and temporal change, diurnal variation, and heavy pollutions in Beijing. The annual average mass concentrations of PM in Beijing were 51, 42, and 38 μg·m, which showed great progress in air quality improvement. However, the PM concentration in 2020 was still 8.

[Characteristics and Sources of PM and Its Light-scattering Properties with Different Chemical Compositions in Urban Area of Beijing].

In recent years, the concentration of PM in the Beijing urban area has decreased with the increase in the proportion of secondary inorganic ions. In order to explore the characteristics and sources of the light scattering of PM with different chemical compositions, PM with its chemical components and scattering coefficient were continuously measured at hourly resolution in the Beijing urban area from December 2020 to November 2021. The components, scattering characteristics, and sources of PM were analyzed.

Air Pollution Characteristics during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Using air pollution monitoring data from 31 January to 31 March 2022, we evaluated air quality trends in Beijing and Zhangjiakou before and after the 2022 Winter Olympics and compared them with the conditions during the same period in 2021. The objective was to define the air quality during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The results indicated that: (1) the average concentrations of PM, PM, NO, CO, and SO in Zhangjiakou during the 2022 Winter Olympics were 28.

Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis in the Dust Fall on Buildings of Different Heights.

High-rise buildings block airflow, and dust accumulates on their upper surfaces. In this study, dust fall on the rooftops of low-, medium-, and high-rise buildings was sampled and analyzed to assess the degree of atmospheric heavy metal pollution. The Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb mass fractions in dust samples were analyzed by microwave digestion/inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Responses of abundant and rare prokaryotic taxa in a controlled organic contaminated site subjected to vertical pollution-induced disturbances.

Soil microbiota as the key role mediates the natural attenuation process of organic contaminated sites, and therefore illuminating the mechanisms underlying the responses of abundant and rare species is essential for understanding ecological processes, maintaining ecosystem stability, and regulating natural attenuation well. Here, we explored the distributional characteristics, ecological diversities, and co-occurrence patterns of abundant and rare prokaryotic subcommunities using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing in vertical soil profiles of a controlled organic contaminated site. Results showed that abundant prokaryotic taxa were widespread across all soil samples, whereas rare counterparts were unbalancedly distributed.

Spatial Distribution and Assessment of the Human Health Risks of Heavy Metals in a Retired Pharmaceutical Industrial Area, Southwest China.

Heavy metals pollution in pharmaceutical industries received increasing attention. A total of 94 soil samples were collected in this study. Results showed the mean contents of Hg, Cd, As, Pb, Ni and Cu were 0.

Pollution pressure and soil depth drive prokaryotic microbial assemblage and co-occurrence patterns in an organic polluted site.

Organic polluted sites have become a global concern of soil contamination, yet little is known about microbial vertical distribution and community assembly in organic polluted sites. Here, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to investigate prokaryotic microbial diversity and community assembly along soil profile in an abandoned chemical organic contaminated site. Results showed that there was no significant difference (P > 0.

[Analysis of Pollution Characteristics and Sources of Rainfall Runoff from Roofs in the Central District of Beijing].

The rainwater and rainfall runoff of roofs in the central district of Beijing from June to September in 2019 were sampled and analyzed to study the characteristics of the water quality, the first flush effect, and the main influential factors and sources of pollutants. The results showed that the roof runoff was seriously polluted by total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids whose event mean concentration (EMC) exceeded the fifth level of environmental quality standards for surface water (GB 3838-2002) (the EMC of suspended solids exceeded the second level of discharge standard of pollutants for municipal wastewater treatment plants (GB 18918-2002)). The rainwater was relatively less polluted than the rainfall runoff, but the EMC of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen of the rainwater also exceeded the standard in some rainfall events.

Grazing Effects of Soil Fauna on White-Rot Fungi: Biomass, Enzyme Production and Litter Decomposition Ability.

Soil invertebrates and microorganisms are two major drivers of litter decomposition. Even though the importance of invertebrates and microorganisms in biogeochemical soil cycles and soil food webs has been studied, the effects of invertebrates on fungi are not well understood compared to other organisms. In this work, we investigated the effects of soil invertebrates on fungi as a factor that cannot be ignored in the study of nutrient cycling.

[Emission Concentration and Characteristics of Particulate Matter and Water-Soluble Ions in Exhaust Gas of Typical Combustion Sources with Ultra-Low Emission].

A self-developed direct condensation sampling system and monitoring method for total particulate matter (TPM) in ultra-low-emission and high-humidity exhaust gas were applied to the emission monitoring of particulate matter in flue gas from three typical combustion sources with ultra-low emissions in Beijing. The emission levels and composition characteristics of particulate matter and water-soluble ions in the exhaust gas of typical combustion sources with ultra-low emissions were analyzed and evaluated. The interaction and influencing factors of filterable particulate matter (FPM) and condensable particulate matter (CPM) and their water-soluble ions were explored.

Spatial and temporal variation characteristics of atmospheric NO and SO in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Emergency response mechanisms were activated throughout China during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is different from the temporary, partial, and limited pollution control measures taken to ensure the regional environmental quality during several important events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). During the COVID-19 epidemic period, extensive movement of people and almost all unnecessary industrial production (necessary industrial production refers to the production of food, epidemic prevention materials, etc.

[VOCs Removal and Emission Monitoring of Beijing Bulk Gasoline Terminals in 2012-2019].

Bulk gasoline terminals are an important emission source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cities. Beijing started to promote the installation of oil and gas recovery devices at oil storage terminals in 2006 to reduce VOCs emissions, since then VOCs emissions from the terminals have been monitored by the municipal government every year. This paper analyzes the VOCs emission characteristics of oil storage terminals in Beijing from 2012 to 2019.

[Analysis of Changes and Factors Influencing Air Pollutants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region During the COVID-19 Pandemic].

A series of strict control measures were imposed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in early 2020 to control the spread of COVID-19. These measures have led to a reduction of anthropogenic air pollutants, providing an opportunity to observe the contribution of human activities to local air pollution. In this study, the control period was divided into four stages:the before, early, middle, and later stages.

[Characteristics of Sludge and Associated Risk Assessment of Urban Sewage Treatment Plants].

In urban solid waste management, the scientific and reasonable disposal and utilization of sewage sludge is becoming more and more important. It can be said that the pollution status and chemical properties of sewage sludge in urban sewage treatment plants can provide a basis for the scientific disposal and utilization of sludge. In this study, the characteristics of pH, moisture content, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Hg, Ni, mineral oil, volatile phenol, PAHs, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were evaluated in sewage sludge collected from 49 sewage treatment plants in a certain city.

Emission characteristics of odorous volatile sulfur compound from a full-scale sequencing batch reactor wastewater treatment plant.

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) generated and discharged as air pollutants from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) pose a threat to human health and the environment. This study characterized VSC emissions from a full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) WWTP at the water-air interface for one year. Results demonstrated that higher ambient temperatures and aeration contributed significantly to VSC emissions as the highest emissions occurred over summer during the feeding synchronous aeration period.

Emission characteristics and assessment of odors from sludge anaerobic digestion with thermal hydrolysis pretreatment in a wastewater treatment plant.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) with thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment (THP) is an effective sludge treatment method which provides several advantages such as enhanced biogas formation and fertilizer production. The main limitation to THP-AD is that hazardous odors, including NH and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), are emitted during the sludge treatment process. In order to develop strategies to eliminate odors, it is necessary to identify the key odors and emissions sites.