The 2013 severe haze over the Southern Hebei, China: PM2.5 composition and source apportionment

Abstract

PM2.5 samples were collected and analyzed for the first time in Handan City, which was listed in the top 4 polluted cities in China, during December 2012 to January 2013 when the record–breaking severe haze pollution happened. Positive Matrix Factorization method (PMF) was applied to understand major sources to the severe haze pollution over this city. The daily average concentration of PM2.5 was 160.1μg m–3, which was 2.1 times of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of China (Class II, Annual Average Level) for daily average PM2.5 of 75μg m–3. SO42– was the most abundant ion (15.4%), followed by NH4+ and NO3–. They accounted for 39.5% of PM2.5. Eight factors were identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The major sources were coal combustion source (25.9%), secondary source (21.8%), industry source (16.2%), Ba, Mn and Zn source (12.7%), motor vehicle source (7.7%), road dust source (10.9%), K+, As and V source (6.3%) and fuel oil combustion source (2.5%).The mean value of extinction coefficient (Bext) was 682.1Mm–1 and the largest contributor to Bext was ammonium sulfate with the mean value of 221.0Mm–1, accounted for 32.4% of the Bext.