Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China
Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA), a vital component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), formation of which is significantly affected by precursors, meteorological factors and the levels of oxidants. However, identifying their roles in SOA and PM2.5, as well as quantifying the contributions of the ind...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004131 |
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| author | Liqing Wu Bing Wu Zhenhao Ling Min Shao Xuemei Wang |
| author_facet | Liqing Wu Bing Wu Zhenhao Ling Min Shao Xuemei Wang |
| author_sort | Liqing Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA), a vital component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), formation of which is significantly affected by precursors, meteorological factors and the levels of oxidants. However, identifying their roles in SOA and PM2.5, as well as quantifying the contributions of the individual pathway to SOA abundance still remain challenged due to the complex origins and degradation mechanisms, as well as the discrepancy between the simulated and observed SOA. Here, a commonly used WRF-Chem model was further optimized for SOA simulation. The improvements included the integration of primary emissions and the degradation of S/IVOCs, aqueous chemistry of carbonyl compounds, chlorine chemistry, cloud aqueous chemistry, and SOA wet deposition processes. The optimized model was used to evaluate the key SOA formation pathways and their impact factors, as well as the associated health risk during pollution episodes. The dominant factors of the aqueous chemistry of carbonyl compounds, chlorine chemistry module, Cl-initiated SOA-forming pathway, cloud aqueous chemistry and wet deposition that influenced SOA abundance were aerosol water, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Cl atom, temperature, respectively. The key formation pathways leading to SOA pollution were the gas-phase oxidation of semi-volatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs) and the aqueous-phase chemistry of carbonyl compounds over mainland China. The regional average attributable fraction of mortality was approximately 0.03, with the largest contributions from the reaction pathways of S/IVOCs and carbonyl compounds. Therefore, reducing emissions of S/IVOCs and carbonyl compounds is vital to mitigating SOA and PM2.5 concentrations, achieving air quality standards, and protecting public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd4b4e4cbcf044b0b66752cce6c26786 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd4b4e4cbcf044b0b66752cce6c267862025-08-20T03:31:29ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-08-0120210966210.1016/j.envint.2025.109662Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland ChinaLiqing Wu0Bing Wu1Zhenhao Ling2Min Shao3Xuemei Wang4College of Ocean and Meteorology, Key Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf Sea and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Climate Environment and Air Quality Change in the Pearl River Estuary, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Climate Environment and Air Quality Change in the Pearl River Estuary, Zhuhai 519082, China; Corresponding authors.College of Environment and Climate, Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, ChinaCollege of Environment and Climate, Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Corresponding authors.Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA), a vital component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), formation of which is significantly affected by precursors, meteorological factors and the levels of oxidants. However, identifying their roles in SOA and PM2.5, as well as quantifying the contributions of the individual pathway to SOA abundance still remain challenged due to the complex origins and degradation mechanisms, as well as the discrepancy between the simulated and observed SOA. Here, a commonly used WRF-Chem model was further optimized for SOA simulation. The improvements included the integration of primary emissions and the degradation of S/IVOCs, aqueous chemistry of carbonyl compounds, chlorine chemistry, cloud aqueous chemistry, and SOA wet deposition processes. The optimized model was used to evaluate the key SOA formation pathways and their impact factors, as well as the associated health risk during pollution episodes. The dominant factors of the aqueous chemistry of carbonyl compounds, chlorine chemistry module, Cl-initiated SOA-forming pathway, cloud aqueous chemistry and wet deposition that influenced SOA abundance were aerosol water, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Cl atom, temperature, respectively. The key formation pathways leading to SOA pollution were the gas-phase oxidation of semi-volatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs) and the aqueous-phase chemistry of carbonyl compounds over mainland China. The regional average attributable fraction of mortality was approximately 0.03, with the largest contributions from the reaction pathways of S/IVOCs and carbonyl compounds. Therefore, reducing emissions of S/IVOCs and carbonyl compounds is vital to mitigating SOA and PM2.5 concentrations, achieving air quality standards, and protecting public health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004131Secondary organic aerosolOptimized simulationSOA-forming pathwaysInfluencing factorsHealth risk |
| spellingShingle | Liqing Wu Bing Wu Zhenhao Ling Min Shao Xuemei Wang Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China Environment International Secondary organic aerosol Optimized simulation SOA-forming pathways Influencing factors Health risk |
| title | Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China |
| title_full | Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China |
| title_fullStr | Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China |
| title_short | Development of SOA modules in the WRF-Chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of SOA and associated health risk over mainland China |
| title_sort | development of soa modules in the wrf chem model and evaluation of the key formation pathways of soa and associated health risk over mainland china |
| topic | Secondary organic aerosol Optimized simulation SOA-forming pathways Influencing factors Health risk |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004131 |
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