Improving urban air quality in China: Beijing case study

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

OSTI ID:20674730

Hao, Jiming; Wang, Litao ^[1]

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1. Tsinghua University, Beijing (China). Department of Environmental Science and Engineering

China is undergoing rapid urbanization because of unprecedented economic growth. As a result, many cities suffer from air pollution. Two-thirds of China's cities have not attained the ambient air quality standards applicable to urban residential areas (Grade II). Particulate matter (PM), rather than sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}), is the major pollutant reflecting the shift from coal burning to mixed source pollution. In 2002, 63.2 and 22.4% of the monitored cities have PM and SO{sub 2} concentrations exceeding the Grade II standard, respectively. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) concentration kept a relatively stable level near the Grade II standard in the last decade and had an increasing potential in recent years because of the rapid motorization. In general, the air pollutants emission did not increase as quickly as the economic growth and energy consumption, and air quality in Chinese cities has improved to some extent. Beijing, a typical representative of rapidly developing cities, is an example to illustrate the possible options for urban air pollution control. Beijing's case provides hope that the challenges associated with improving air quality can be met during a period of explosive development and motorization. 21 refs., 19 figs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 20674730
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHINA
AIR QUALITY
URBAN AREAS
PARTICULATES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
AIR POLLUTION
COAL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
VEHICLES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
OZONE
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
DUSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES