Abstract
In large areas of China severe air pollution events pose a significant threat to human health, ecosystems and climate. Current reduction of primary emissions will also affect secondary pollutants such as ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM), but the magnitude of the effects is uncertain. Major scientific challenges are related to the formation of O3 and secondary particulate matter including Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA). Large uncertainties also remain regarding the interactions of soot, SOA and O3 under the influence of different SO2, NOX and VOC concentrations. To improve the understanding of these secondary atmospheric interactions in China, scientific areas of central importance for photochemically induced air pollutants have been identified. In addition to the scientific challenges, results from research need to be synthesized across several disciplines and communicated to stakeholders affected by air pollution and to policy makers responsible for developing abatement strategies. Development of these science-policy interactions can benefit from experience gained under the UN ECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
Highlights
Severe air-pollution events in many parts of China pose a major threat to health and ecosystems [1]
Secondary chemistry transforming primary pollutants is of high relevance for Chinese photochemical smog [2,6]
Co-emitted gases such as SO2, NH3, NOX and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are e.g. producing organic nitrates or sulphates; one needs to address synergy effects and unknown mechanisms that lead to anthropogenic enhancement on the formation of Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA); r adaptation of chemical transport models with specific secondary chemistry to describe the Chinese photochemical smog, source apportionment and application of models on scenarios of abatement with corresponding emission changes on air pollutants, Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) and influence on secondary photochemistry; appropriate and accurate descriptions of photochemical processes in such modelling systems are essential for valuable cost–benefit analysis, especially regarding impact on health and ecosystems; r understanding perceptions of risks associated with secondary pollutants to address the policy–science relationship
Summary
Severe air-pollution events in many parts of China pose a major threat to health and ecosystems [1]. Two distinct types of smog have been described: the classical wintertime ‘London smog’, mainly caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbonaceous particles (soot) from combustion of coal; and ‘photochemical smog’, where emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), mainly from traffic, yield secondary air pollutants such as O3. These types of smog have been extensively researched and updated tools describing the source-to-impact relationships are applied to support policies and abatement strategies.
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