Chemical composition characteristics and source analysis of PM2.5 in Jiaxing, China: insights into the effect of COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

ABSTRACT Jiaxing is a medium-sized city in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), which showed complex local and surrounding pollution sources. To study the COVID-19 impact on the ambient PM2.5 in Jiaxing, we collected the PM2.5 samples from 2 January to 25 April 2020 and analysed their chemical compositions (including carbon components, water-soluble ions (WSIs), and inorganic elements). The concentration of PM2.5 was 83.13 ± 30.93 μg/m3 before COVID-19 pandemic and then remarkably decreased with COVID-19 outbreak due to the suspension of mobility and industrial activities. Meanwhile, the concentrations of main chemical species (carbon components, water-soluble ions and inorganic elements) of PM2.5 all decreased from period A (2–20 January 2020) to period B (23 January to 10 February 2020). Moreover, Trajectory clustering analysis showed that close-range transport was one of the dominant factors throughout all the periods, except for period D (1–25 April 2020). In addition, the PSCF model indicated that the COVID-19 outbreak resulted in a significant decrease of WPSCF value. This study highlighted the differences in chemical compositions and sources of PM2.5 since COVID-19 pandemic was reported and provided a better understanding of its outbreak on PM2.5.