Trends in particulate matter and its chemical compositions in China from 2013–2017

Accurate determination of the atmospheric particulate matter mass concentration and chemical composition is helpful in exploring the causes and sources of atmospheric enthalpy pollution and in evaluating the rationality of environmental air quality control strategies. Based on the sampling and chemical composition data of PM2.5 in different key regions of China in the CARE-China observation network, this research analyzes the environmental air quality data released by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre during the studied period to determine the changes in the particulate matter mass concentration in key regions and the evolution of the corresponding chemical compositions during the implementation of the Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Air Pollution from 2013–2017. The results show the following. (1) The particulate matter mass concentration in China showed a significant downward trend; however, the PM2.5 annual mass concentration in 64% of cities exceeds the New Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) Grade II (GB3095-2012). The region to the east of the Taihang Mountains, the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain and the Urumqi-Changji regions in Xinjiang, all have PM2.5 concentration loading that is still high, and heavy haze pollution occurred frequently in the autumn and winter. (2) During the heavy pollution in the autumn and winter, the concentrations of sulfate and organic components decreased significantly. The mean $${\rm{SO}}_4^{2-}$$ concentration in PM2.5 decreased by 76%, 12%, 81% and 38% in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the Sichuan-Chongqing region (SC) and the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain, respectively. The mean organic matter (OM) concentration decreased by 70%, 44%, 48% and 31%, respectively, and the mean concentration of $${\rm{NH}}_4^+$$ decreased by 68%, 1.6%, 38% and 25%, respectively. The mean elemental carbon (EC) concentration decreased by 84% and 20% in BTH and SC, respectively, and it increased by 61% and 11% in the PRD and Fenhe and Weihe River Plain, respectively. The mean concentration of mineral and unresolved chemical components (MI) dropped by 70%, 24% and 13% in BTH, the PRD and the Fenhe and Weihe River Plain, respectively. The change in the PM2.5 chemical composition is consistent with the decrease of the PM2.5 mass concentration. (3) In 2015, the mean OM concentration contributions to fine particles and coarse particles were 13–46% and 46–57%, respectively, and the mean MI concentration contributions to fine particles and coarse and particles were 31–60% and 39–73%, respectively; these values are lower than the 2013 values from the key regions, which is the most important factor behind the decrease of the particulate matter mass concentration. From 2013 to 2015, among the chemical components of different particle size fractions, the peak value of the coarse particle size fraction decreased significantly, and the fine particle size fractions of $${\rm{SO}}_4^{2-},{\rm{NO}}_4^-,\;{\rm{and}}\;{\rm{NH}}_4^+$$ decreased with the decrease of the particulate matter mass concentration in different particle size fractions. The fine-particle size peaks of $${\rm{SO}}_4^{2-},{\rm{NO}}_4^-,\;{\rm{and}}\;{\rm{NH}}_4^+$$ shifted from 0.65–1.1 μm to the finer size range of 0.43–0.65 μm during the same time frame.