Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation

Abstract Introduction Various studies were conducted focused on the coal-to-gas (CTG) impacts on urban PM2.5 during its implementation. However, the continuity of CTG effectiveness on PM2.5 control in the post CTG remained unclear, especially in rural area, retarding the further emission-control pol...

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Main Authors: Zhi Ning, Zhiyong Li, Jihong Wei, Jinming Liu, Huichun Ma, Zhuangzhuang Ren, Xiaohua Ma, Chen Liu, Lan Chen, Aiqin Liu, Binglin Wang, Jiaqi Wang, Huiying Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-04-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-025-00003-3
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author Zhi Ning
Zhiyong Li
Jihong Wei
Jinming Liu
Huichun Ma
Zhuangzhuang Ren
Xiaohua Ma
Chen Liu
Lan Chen
Aiqin Liu
Binglin Wang
Jiaqi Wang
Huiying Gao
author_facet Zhi Ning
Zhiyong Li
Jihong Wei
Jinming Liu
Huichun Ma
Zhuangzhuang Ren
Xiaohua Ma
Chen Liu
Lan Chen
Aiqin Liu
Binglin Wang
Jiaqi Wang
Huiying Gao
author_sort Zhi Ning
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Various studies were conducted focused on the coal-to-gas (CTG) impacts on urban PM2.5 during its implementation. However, the continuity of CTG effectiveness on PM2.5 control in the post CTG remained unclear, especially in rural area, retarding the further emission-control policy optimization. To address this gap, we examined the wintertime rural PM2.5 variations within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei during the non-epidemic-lockdown period of winter 2020–2022. Of which, 2020 holds the most stringent CTG enforcement, 2021 marks the conclusion of CTG, and 2022 represents the post CTG. Methods In this study, the PM2.5 levels in rural areas of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region were monitored during the winters of 2020, 2021, and 2022. Meanwhile, multiple chemical analysis methods were employed to determine its chemical components. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling and Potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis were employed to analyze the contributions of different sources to PM2.5. Results and Discussion PM2.5 exhibited an average decrease of 30.4%, and PMF modeling indicated the contributions of coal combustion (CC) to PM2.5 fell from 22.4% in 2020 to 17.8% in 2021, and further to 10.8% by 2022, highlighting the enduring CTG effectiveness. The continuously decreasing CC-specific As, Pb, and SO4 2– was another evidence for scattered coal prohibition. Reluctantly, the biomass burning (BB) contributions held higher increase of 17.2% in 2021–2022 than 8.86% in 2020–2021, and it has leapt to be the largest PM2.5 contributor (25.4%) in winter 2022. The natural gas shortage and subsidy reduction in winter 2022, as well as the man, and forced demolition of coal-stoves in winter 2022 should be the main inducements. Contrary to the recent upward trend of secondary aerosols, SO4 2–, NO3 –, and NH4 + showed a downward trend, with annual average dropped of 52.6%, 23.4%, and 53.8%, respectively. This should be ascribed to the enhanced primary emissions from BB and vehicle exhaust (VE). Increments of VE fraction might be related to the gradually unblocking of COVID-19. Correspondingly, the fractions of BB-dependent K+/Cl– and VE-specific Cu/Zn/NO3 – obviously rose from 2020 to 2022. Conclusions This work highlighted that the priorities should be given to the emission control from BB, and guarantee of natural gas supply and certain financial CTG subsidies on the basis of retaining the original pollution control policies, for further rural air quality improvement in the post CTG period. Graphical abstract
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spelling doaj-art-fa44bb3255b44e68b0509c3680bd4c5b2025-08-20T03:52:19ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092025-04-01251-411310.1007/s44408-025-00003-3Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year ObservationZhi Ning0Zhiyong Li1Jihong Wei2Jinming Liu3Huichun Ma4Zhuangzhuang Ren5Xiaohua Ma6Chen Liu7Lan Chen8Aiqin Liu9Binglin Wang10Jiaqi Wang11Huiying Gao12Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei UniversityHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Mineral Resources and Ecological Environment Monitoring, Hebei Research Center for GeoanalysisHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityHebei Key Lab of Mineral Resources and Ecological Environment Monitoring, Hebei Research Center for GeoanalysisSchool of Control Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityChina Environmental United Certification Center Co., Ltd.Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power UniversityAbstract Introduction Various studies were conducted focused on the coal-to-gas (CTG) impacts on urban PM2.5 during its implementation. However, the continuity of CTG effectiveness on PM2.5 control in the post CTG remained unclear, especially in rural area, retarding the further emission-control policy optimization. To address this gap, we examined the wintertime rural PM2.5 variations within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei during the non-epidemic-lockdown period of winter 2020–2022. Of which, 2020 holds the most stringent CTG enforcement, 2021 marks the conclusion of CTG, and 2022 represents the post CTG. Methods In this study, the PM2.5 levels in rural areas of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region were monitored during the winters of 2020, 2021, and 2022. Meanwhile, multiple chemical analysis methods were employed to determine its chemical components. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling and Potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis were employed to analyze the contributions of different sources to PM2.5. Results and Discussion PM2.5 exhibited an average decrease of 30.4%, and PMF modeling indicated the contributions of coal combustion (CC) to PM2.5 fell from 22.4% in 2020 to 17.8% in 2021, and further to 10.8% by 2022, highlighting the enduring CTG effectiveness. The continuously decreasing CC-specific As, Pb, and SO4 2– was another evidence for scattered coal prohibition. Reluctantly, the biomass burning (BB) contributions held higher increase of 17.2% in 2021–2022 than 8.86% in 2020–2021, and it has leapt to be the largest PM2.5 contributor (25.4%) in winter 2022. The natural gas shortage and subsidy reduction in winter 2022, as well as the man, and forced demolition of coal-stoves in winter 2022 should be the main inducements. Contrary to the recent upward trend of secondary aerosols, SO4 2–, NO3 –, and NH4 + showed a downward trend, with annual average dropped of 52.6%, 23.4%, and 53.8%, respectively. This should be ascribed to the enhanced primary emissions from BB and vehicle exhaust (VE). Increments of VE fraction might be related to the gradually unblocking of COVID-19. Correspondingly, the fractions of BB-dependent K+/Cl– and VE-specific Cu/Zn/NO3 – obviously rose from 2020 to 2022. Conclusions This work highlighted that the priorities should be given to the emission control from BB, and guarantee of natural gas supply and certain financial CTG subsidies on the basis of retaining the original pollution control policies, for further rural air quality improvement in the post CTG period. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-025-00003-3Beijing-Tianjin-HebeiRural PM2.5Coal-to-gasBiomass burningCoal combustion
spellingShingle Zhi Ning
Zhiyong Li
Jihong Wei
Jinming Liu
Huichun Ma
Zhuangzhuang Ren
Xiaohua Ma
Chen Liu
Lan Chen
Aiqin Liu
Binglin Wang
Jiaqi Wang
Huiying Gao
Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
Rural PM2.5
Coal-to-gas
Biomass burning
Coal combustion
title Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
title_full Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
title_fullStr Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
title_full_unstemmed Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
title_short Variations in Rural PM2.5 Sources and Composition in the Post Coal-to-Gas Period Based on a Three-Year Observation
title_sort variations in rural pm2 5 sources and composition in the post coal to gas period based on a three year observation
topic Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
Rural PM2.5
Coal-to-gas
Biomass burning
Coal combustion
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-025-00003-3
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