The Guangzhou Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has released the latest research on the chemical composition and major source changes of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The results show that Guangzhou's PM2.5 last year was "cleaner" than in the previous two years, with a decrease in chemical component content.

Main sources of PM2.5: Coal-fired sources

In 2016, PM2.5 sample collection was carried out simultaneously at three monitoring sites: Guangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center (Gongyuanqian), South China Normal University Kangda College (Jiulong Town), and Wanqingsha Middle School (Wanqingsha). After analyzing the mass concentration levels and chemical components of the samples, the largest source of PM2.5 in Guangzhou was coal combustion, accounting for 19.9%; followed by motor vehicle exhaust at 16.3%; biomass burning and agricultural non-point sources accounted for 10.1% each. Natural sources, ship emissions, industrial processes, dust, domestic non-point sources, and other sources accounted for 9.4%, 8.9%, 8.1%, 7.5%, 5.8%, and 3.8% respectively.

Research shows that the composition of PM2.5 sources varies slightly by region. The proportions of motor vehicle exhaust, industrial processes, and domestic sources are higher in urban areas than in suburbs. Biomass burning and dust have a greater impact on northern Guangzhou, while coal combustion and ship emissions significantly affect southern Guangzhou.

The Guangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau stated that through the deepening of air pollution prevention measures, Guangzhou's ambient air quality improved further in 2016. Moving forward, the city will utilize PM2.5 source apportionment results to implement control measures in key areas such as energy structure and industrial layout optimization, industrial coal pollution control, vehicle emission prevention, dust pollution supervision, and volatile organic compound (VOC) control.

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