Cars major contributors to Beijing smog
Print Edition
CARS are among the largest contributors to Beijing’s smog problem, the city’s environmental protection bureau said yesterday in a report which revealed that two-thirds of its hazardous PM2.5 particles were generated inside the city, with a third from outside.
The report was the first time that Beijing, notorious for severe air pollution, had published specific details on PM2.5 particles.
It was the result of research by experts from the bureau, Peking University and the China Research Academy of Environmental Sciences carried out between June 2012 and the end of last year.
On average, the city produced 64 to 72 percent of its PM2.5 pollutants, with vehicles, coal burning, industrial production and dust the four major contributors, giving out 85.9 percent of particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. Vehicles were responsible for 31.1 percent of that.
The average contribution of transmission from other regions was between 28 and 36 percent, but could be as high as 50 percent on days when air pollution was especially heavy.
Some 70 percent of PM2.5 pollutants are formed by gaseous pollutants discharged into the air, the report said.
While motor vehicles discharge PM 2.5 particles directly, they also let out volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and other materials that can form organic matter and nitrates, it said.
Experts concluded that automobile exhaust emissions, coal burning, industrial production and dust should be further controlled to improve air quality, and there should be specific regulations governing motor vehicles.
Regional cooperation is also needed as pollutants transmitted from outside the city are also a major reason for its air pollution problem.
The experts suggested authorities reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, as well as sulfur dioxide and ammonia.
They said studies of the changing nature of air pollution should be pushed forward to improve air quality.
Shanghai released a report on the composition of PM2.5 particles in the city last year, which said that industrial production and automobile exhaust emissions each contributed 25 percent of PM2.5 particles, with some 20 percent coming from neighboring regions.
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