Fifteen-year trends in carbon species and PM2.5 in Seoul, South Korea (2003–2017)

Abstract

This study focused on particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon species in Seoul, South Korea, to quantitatively evaluate their long-term trends and assess the main correlating factors. Ambient PM2.5 samples were collected over a 24 h period every third or sixth day from March 2003 to December 2017.The mean concentrations of PM2.5, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), primary and secondary OC (POC and SOC) in Seoul over 15 years were 32.2 μg/m3 and 7.28 μg/m3, 1.85 μg/m3, 4.29 μg/m3 and 3.54 μg/m3 respectively. The long-term concentration trends in PM2.5, OC, EC, POC, and SOC decreased significantly at rates of −2.09, −3.13, −6.31, −2.86, and −3.88 per year, respectively from 2003 to 2017 (p < 0.001), whereas the long-term trends in OC/EC significantly increased at a rate of 12.9/year (p < 0.001). These long-term decreases in PM2.5 and carbon species concentrations were most pronounced in 2008 but almost disappeared from 2013 onwards. Considering the decrease in wind speed and variations in the concentration of gaseous air pollutants (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds) without a tendency to increase or decrease since 2013, secondary aerosol formation by atmospheric stagnation alleviated long-term decreases in PM2.5 and carbon species concentrations. The long-term decreases in EC concentration were the most consistent and rapid, strongly suggesting that atmospheric policies related to mobile in South Korea were effective in reducing EC concentration. Future air quality management should focus on the secondary formation of air pollutants based on regional trends in air pollutant concentrations.