Characterization, sources, and driving factors of particulate matter (PM) pollution in a desert hinterland city: Insights from Hotan, China.

Influence of urban canopy turbulence on haze pollution evolution in a Basin City

Abstract Atmospheric hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a critical oxidant that influences atmospheric chemistry, playing a pivotal role in the cycling of hydroperoxyl (HO 2 ) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals, ozone (O 3 ) formation, and sulfate aerosol production. However, the current understanding of its concentration level, sources and atmospheric effects are still poor. This study investigates the drivers of elevated H 2 O 2 concentrations during autumn in Beijing using comprehensive field observations from October to November 2021. The averaged H 2 O 2 concentration in the urban boundary layer of Beijing is 0.26 ± 0.03 ppb, peaking at 16:00. By integrating Random Forest Regression and relative incremental reactivity analysis, we systematically examine the influence of meteorological factors, trace gases, and photochemical reactions on H 2 O 2 concentrations. The result showed the significant contributions of temperature (T) and photochemical processes to H 2 O 2 production, while identifying key inhibitors such as nitrogen monoxide (NO). Additionally, we explore the role of H 2 O 2 in sulfate formation during haze pollution episodes, finding that although H 2 O 2 ‐mediated oxidation contributes to sulfate production, it is not the dominant pathway during the campaign. These findings underscore the complex interplay between meteorological factors, trace gases, and multiphase reactions in regulating H 2 O 2 concentrations and cycling, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of atmospheric oxidation processes and offer guidance for mitigating air quality issues in urban boundary layer.

<p>This study examines whether financial development contributes to haze pollution reduction. In a Partially Linear Functional-Coefficient (PLFC) model, we use a prefecture-level panel to analyse the influential mechanism of financial development on haze pollution by constructing the comprehensive index of urban financial development from three dimensions of financial scale, financial efficiency and financial structure. The results indicate that financial development significantly contributes to haze pollution reduction, both in terms of financial scale and financial efficiency. The role of financial structure is uncertain. Moreover, the impact of financial development on smog is nonlinear in regional changes. We also find that innovation and environmental regulation can significantly promote the impact of financial development on haze governance. These results suggest different channels through which financial development affect smog.</p>

Human dermal exposure to tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecanes in hand wipes: Effects of population, gender, and haze pollution

The impact of income inequality on haze pollution and health damage in China: A spatial econometrics perspective

Aircraft observations of aerosols during a haze pollution in the North China Plain: Spatial-temporal distribution, vertical distribution and physicochemical characteristics

ABSTRACT Environmental governance system involves both government and public participation, but its effectiveness remains unclear. This study utilizes balanced panel data of 281 cities in China covering the period of 2011–2023 to conduct empirical analysis from the perspective of government and public forces working together. It provides new evidence about the effectiveness of China’s environmental governance system. The findings reveal that the synergetic effect of government environmental concerns and public environmental awareness inhibits carbon emissions and haze pollution, with green innovation, environmental regulation, and green bonds as the transmission channels. Further analysis indicates that the synergetic effect is more significant in regions with high levels of digitization and digital finance. The synergetic effect also exhibits significant spatial spillover effects, effectively inhibiting surrounding areas’ carbon emissions and haze pollution. These findings have important policy implications for strengthening the collaborative mechanism between the government and the public, smoothing pathways for synergetic effect, accelerating digitization and digital finance development, and establishing cross-regional collaborative governance systems.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in mitigating regional haze and to identify the primary factors conditioning its operational success and limitations. A qualitative documentary analysis of official ASEAN documents, governmental reports, and academic literature was employed to examine the translation of the AATHP's legal mandates into practical outcomes. Principal results indicate that while AATHP provides a comprehensive framework and has spurred adaptive strategies, its tangible impact on consistent haze reduction is profoundly challenged. Identified impediments include historical delays in ratification by key member states, weaknesses in national-level enforcement of anti-burning laws, the absence of robust sanctioning mechanisms within the Agreement, and the persistent difficulty in addressing complex socio-economic root causes of fires. The study concludes that although the AATHP is an indispensable instrument for regional cooperation, achieving a haze-free ASEAN remains contingent upon enhanced national implementation and enforcement, a genuine commitment to tackling root causes, and potentially a recalibration of regional cooperative dynamics to foster more assertive environmental protection.

The COVID-19 pandemic emerging in early 2020 triggered global responses. In China, stringent lockdown measures were implemented to suppress the rapid spread of infection, resulting in substantial reductions in anthropogenic emissions. However, several atmospheric haze episodes still occurred. Previous studies have investigated the cause of these haze events predominantly based on the average concentration obtained from bulk analysis, while the micro-scale structure and composition of the haze particles remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the morphology and elemental composition of individual airborne particles collected from an urban area of Beijing in early 2020 using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The results show that sulfur-dominant, ultrafine, and mixed particles were the most abundant types during the pollution process. Reduced human activities corresponded with a lower percentage of anthropogenic-derived soot, organic particles, and metal-containing particles. Atmospheric aging analysis demonstrated that secondary aerosols were the most significant component during the haze events. The proportion of core–shell particles increased with the intensification of the pollution, while the core/shell ratio of the particles decreased, suggesting a substantial contribution of secondary aerosols to the haze formation. Despite reductions in anthropogenic emissions, larger proportions of secondary aerosol formation enhanced aerosol aging and thereby caused episodic haze pollution during the lockdown period.

This paper examines adapting science diplomacy to enhance successful implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), drawing valuable lessons from Arctic Council experiences. Using a qualitative comparative approach, it analyses how the Arctic Council's structured science diplomacy enables evidence-based decision-making while preserving national interests. Contrastingly, AATHP currently faces limited enforcement and fragmented scientific input. The research proposes integrating science diplomacy, particularly through STI collaboration, to enhance ASEAN's effective policy execution. By adopting an Arctic Council-inspired science diplomacy framework, ASEAN could strengthen cross-border scientific networks, depoliticise environmental dialogue, and enhance AATHP operationalisation while respecting the important non-interference principle.

Consecutive haze and dust pollution drives episodic atmospheric phosphorus enrichment and dry deposition over China's marginal seas.

Impacts of turbulent intermittency and pressure oscillation on persistent heavy haze pollution

This paper aims to investigate how healthy living factors such as health awareness, healthy living behavior, haze pollution, healthy food choices, and physical activity influence wellbeing of Generation Z. Furthermore, the study assesses how mental health mediates the relationship between healthy living factors and wellbeing. This is a quantitative research method with correlational and causal research design. Primary data for this study were obtained through a structured, self-administered questionnaire, developed to capture comprehensive quantitative insights from Generation Z. Data were collected from 247 respondents via google form. The prepared dataset was then imported into SPSS version 20 for comprehensive statistical analysis. The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the changing well-being dynamics of Generation Z in Nepal. The results indicate that health awareness, healthy lifestyle practices, healthy food choices, and engagement in physical activities positively contribute to Gen Z’s overall well-being, while haze pollution has a significantly negative impact. Furthermore, mental health plays a moderating role in shaping this relationship. As a generation influenced by digital connectivity, easy access to information, and environmental challenges, their well-being is largely grounded in mental health, health literacy, and dietary habits. The research indicates that general lifestyle habits and environmental awareness have a lesser direct impact than expected. The study highlights that improving their well-being requires focusing on building mental resilience, providing credible health education, and supporting informed lifestyle choices. Addressing deeper psychological and informational needs is essential for enhancing the overall well-being of Nepali youth. Need for Mental health support, better health communication strategies, Holistic well-being policies. Future studies should focus on Information behavior, Perception-based health models.

The issue of regional haze pollution has become increasingly prominent. However, early warning models for regional haze pollution are significantly lacking. To accurately predict regional PM2.5 pollution, hourly average concentration data of pollutants from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023 in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration, along with concurrent surface meteorological data, are used and builds multi-scales feature fusion regional pollution prediction network (MSFRPM) based on a multi-input-multi-output deep learning framework. This model can simultaneously forecast PM2.5 concentrations for all cities in the region. The results show that the annual and seasonal prediction evaluation metrics of the MSFRPM model are significantly better than those of the baseline models. This can be attributed to the ability of the MSFRPM model to effectively capture the temporal dependency of historical PM2.5, the complex nonlinear relationships between other pollutants and meteorological factors within cities, and the multi-scales spatiotemporal dependencies of PM2.5 transport between cities in the urban agglomeration. In 2023, the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration experienced 15 days of mild regional pollution, 21 days of moderate pollution, and 2 days of severe pollution, with moderate pollution being the dominant type of PM2.5 pollution. Seasonally, regional PM2.5 pollution in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration is mainly concentrated in the winter. The MSFRPM model assesses that the interannual and seasonal assessments of regional PM2.5 pollution in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration in 2023 are generally consistent with actual observations. Accurate prediction of regional PM2.5 pollution is of great significance for the coordinated management and early warning of regional pollution.

This research examines the criminal liability of PT. Simeulue Perkasa Sejahtera (PT. SPS) for environmental damage resulting from forest and land fires in Nagan Raya, Aceh. Utilizing a normative juridical approach, the study analyzes Indonesia’s legal framework, including Undang-Undang No. 32 Tahun 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, Undang-Undang No. 41 Tahun 1999 on Forestry, and Peraturan Pemerintah No. 71 Tahun 2014 on Peat Ecosystem Protection. Findings indicate that although legal provisions impose strict liability on corporations for environmental harm, law enforcement remains weak and inconsistent. Evidence of fire hotspots within PT. SPS’s concession area failed to result in administrative or criminal sanctions, reflecting broader enforcement challenges such as lack of inter-agency coordination, inadequate forensic expertise, and judicial reluctance. The discussion highlights the importance of attributing liability not only to corporate entities but also to individual actors within the company. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for stronger administrative actions and judicial reforms to bridge the gap between law and practice. This research contributes to the discourse on corporate environmental accountability in Indonesia and calls for urgent legal and institutional reforms to ensure environmental justice and uphold international commitments related to climate change and transboundary haze pollution.

Peatland ecosystems in Southeast Asia are vital carbon sinks and biodiversity reserves, yet they face persistent threats from unsustainable land-use practices, particularly fire-based land clearing. Indonesia, which holds a significant share of the region’s tropical peatlands, remains a key actor in addressing the environmental and transboundary haze crises stemming from peatland degradation. As a member of ASEAN, Indonesia is bound by regional commitments, including the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the ASEAN Second Haze-Free Roadmap (2023–2030), which promotes sustainable peatland management through strategies such as the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS). This paper aims to critically assess Indonesia’s peatland management strategies in light of these regional obligations. It evaluates the implementation and enforcement of the Zero Burn Policy, the current state of peatland rehabilitation and preservation efforts, the institutional and legal roles of the Indonesian government, and comparative insights drawn from other ASEAN member states. This research uses a combination normative and empirical juridical research methodology, integrating doctrinal legal analysis with contextual evaluation of implementation practices. Despite regulatory advancements and institutional initiatives, Indonesia continues to face significant challenges, including weak enforcement, persistent land burning, and fragmented governance. The paper concludes that achieving sustainable peatland management and fulfilling ASEAN commitments requires stronger inter-agency coordination, enhanced legal clarity, and deeper regional collaboration rooted in shared environmental governance principles.

Online observation of PM2.5 chemical composition in coastal city of the Yangtze River Delta: temporal variation and comparative analysis of pollution types.

Atmosphere serves as a significant reservoir and habitat for pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Wet deposition facilitates their entry into terrestrial ecosystems, posing potential health risks. This study investigated the harmful biological components during a winter haze-snowfall event in a northern Chinese city. The findings revealed an elevated PM2.5 concentration of 309 µg/m3 during severe pollution, which was associated with high concentrations of water-soluble ions and microorganisms. The composition of microbial communities varied in response to the intensification of pollution leading up to snowfall. Prior to snowfall, the dominant phylum was Proteobacteria (83.2 %), with predominant genera including Sphingomonas (16.3 %), Bradyrhizobium (13.6 %), Phyllobacterium (10.6 %), Caulobacter (9.7 %) and Afipia (7.8 %). Following snowfall, the dominant phylum shifted to Bacteroidetes (38.9 %), with key genera being Prevotella (28.3 %), Aliiarcobacter (11.7 %), Staphylococcus (10.7 %), and Pseudomonas (6.9 %). Harmful bioaerosol components were enriched in snow samples, including pathogenic bacteria such as Afipia broomeae, Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens, Escherichia coli, Aliiarcobacter cryaerophilus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Parabacteroides distasonis along with ARGs like macB, tetA (58), evgS, adeL; these accounted for up to 75 % of pathogenic bacteria present in snow water. A notable enrichment of metabolic pathways related to human diseases following snowfall events observed within clean samples post-snowfall; this increase may be attributed to enrichments occurring during haze pollution that were subsequently transported from the upper atmosphere as analyzed through air mass backward trajectories. This research provides valuable insights into the distribution patterns of pathogenic microorganisms and ARGs within particulate matter and snow samples, meanwhile elucidating preliminary understandings regarding the enrichment and migration mechanisms of high-risk bioaerosol components facilitated by wet deposition during periods of severe air pollution.

Implementing appropriate environmental economics and policies has become challenging as the global haze problem has become increasingly serious. China is one of the largest emitters of carbon in the world, necessitating the rapid development and improvement in its policies to address haze pollution national. The impact of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) on pollution caused by particulate matter in the air with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) in China has been studied; however, the seasonal meteorological factors affecting PM2.5 concentrations remain largely underexplored. Therefore, this study estimated how the ETS policy reduced PM2.5 pollution using a difference-in-differences model. This study used the convergent cross-mapping method to analyse the causal relationships among the PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors in all four seasons. The empirical results showed that China’s ETS policy substantially reduced PM2.5 concentration in 37 pilot cities by 10.9% on average. A causal relationship was found between PM2.5 concentration and various meteorological factors. In addition, the effect of the ETS regime on reducing emissions strongly correlated with urban meteorological conditions and showed seasonal differences. This study provides specific guidelines for implementing national environmental policies in China and other developing countries.