Zhang Hefeng, Shuxiao Wang, Jiming Hao, Xinming Wang, Shulan Wang, Fahe Chai, and Mei Li. "Air Pollution and Control Action in Beijing."Journal of Cleaner Production, accessed September 26, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.092.
Abstract
Beijing, the capital of China, has experienced rapid industrialization, urbanization and motorization in recent decades. Consequently, air pollution in Beijing, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, has gradually become a severe environmental issue, due to the continuing growth in energy consumption and the resulting multiple pollutant emissions. In response to the increasingly serious PM2.5 pollution, Beijing's government implemented a series of policies, measures and regulations on air pollution prevention and control and took some concrete actions to improve air quality. In this paper, firstly, we summarize China's ambient air quality standards, China's policies and regulations on air pollution prevention and control. Secondly, we illustrate historical evolution and current status of air pollution in Beijing. Finally, we introduce control measures and actions in Beijing and its surrounding areas. The paper aims to help environmental scientists and policy makers around the world understand the past and current air pollution in Beijing and control strategies and actions taken by Beijing's government.
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project. Hefeng Zhang Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China Expertise: Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Science, Technology and Environmental Politics Publications: Comparative analysis of chemical composition and sources of aerosol particles in urban Beijing during clear, hazy, and dusty days using single particle aerosol mass spectrometry, Journal of Cleaner Production, Available online 25 April 2015, ISSN 0959-6526, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.054.
Shuxiao Wang School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China Expertise: emission characteristics of air pollutants, local and regional air pollution modeling and control policies, Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric Chemistry Publications: The variation of chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 and formation causes during two haze pollution events in urban Beijing, China http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.02.022 Public health benefits of reducing air pollution in Shanghai: A proof-of-concept methodology with application to BenMAP http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.113.
Jiming Hao School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China Expertise: Air pollution control, Energy and environment, Vehicle emission control
Xinming Wang State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China Expertise: Geochemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry
Shulan Wang Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China Expertise: Air pollution characteristics, source analysis, control and management
Fahe Chai Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China Expertise: Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Science, Technology and Environmental Politics
Mei Li Atmospheric Environment Institute of Safety and Pollution Control, Jinan University, Guangdong, 510632, China
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report? Firstly, the paper introduced national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in China, ‘Joint Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’, ‘Action Plan of Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’, and ‘Action Plan of Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in Beijing - Tianjin - Hebei region and Surrounding Area’. Afterwards, it presents the historical evolution of major air pollutants analyzed the current status of Beijing's air pollution. Finally, it covers control measures and actions taken in Beijing and its neighboring area.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported. In the 2rd section of the paper, it uses descriptive words along with diagrams and charts to demonstrate the development and changes of China’s NAAQS starting from 1982 when NAASQS were originally formulated. It also introduces ‘Joint Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’ which is the first comprehensive policy document to improve regional and urban air quality in China. ‘Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’ which was covered in my annotation of the previous week is also mentioned.
In the 3rd section of the paper, the author uses diagrams to show that PM10 in Beijing was steadily decreasing since 1998 but still above the limit value and PM2.5 has become the primary air pollutant in Beijing. The SO2 concentration is dropping to below the limiting value and NOx concentration has decreased as well.
In the 4th section, the paper covers the control actions during the period of 29th Summer Olympic Games. Starting 2003, Beijing reduced industrial coal consumption, constructed desulfurization, dust removal and denitrification facilities and controlled vehicle emission. It also presents “Clean Air Action Plan” and “Air Pollution Prevention and Control regulations” which mainly focus on control of vehicle emission pollution and coal-fired pollution.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report? “We review recent advances about China's ambient air quality standards, policies and regulations on air pollution prevention and control in China, illustrate historical evolution and current status of Beijing's air pollution, and present control measures and actions taken by Beijing's government.”
“In addition, it can be concluded from Fig. 3 that from 2008 through 2013, the PM2.5/PM10 ratio in Beijing increased from 0.61 in 2008 to 0.82 in 2013, indicating that particulate pollution was mainly dominated by PM2.5 pollution in Beijing.“
“Among these local emission sources, the four major contributors to Beijing's PM2.5 were motor vehicle (31.1%), coal combustion (22.4%), industrial production (18.1%), fugitive dusts (14.3%). “
“This study can provide the basic information about China's urban air pollution for scientists and governments in the world, which help have a good knowledge about the current status of urban air pollution in China and assess the effectiveness of control measures and actions taken by Chinese government.”
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report? I think the methods they used are extensive research of online articles regarding the topic and referencing and interpreting data from governmental sources. They used data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics for GDP, energy consumption and data from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau for PM10, SO2 and NO2 and data from U S Embassy for PM2.5. Some of the figures didn’t have the source listed.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report? No, it doesn’t address health disparities.
Where has this article or report been referenced or discussed? (In some journals, you can see this in a sidebar.) The paper is available online after May 1st 2015. It’s a relatively new article. It hasn’t been cited yet.
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced? Many of the bibliography are used in the introductory part of the article. Author constructs most part of the article with analysis and references of governmental data. Some of the citations were used to provide slightly more depth for some aspects of the topic.
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings? I followed up on impact of 2008 Olympic Game on air quality in Beijing, PM2.5 pollution in Beijing (e.g. heavy haze pollution episodes in January 2013) and governmental control strategies regarding PM2.5 pollution.
Citation
Zhang Hefeng, Shuxiao Wang, Jiming Hao, Xinming Wang, Shulan Wang, Fahe Chai, and Mei Li. "Air Pollution and Control Action in Beijing."Journal of Cleaner Production, accessed September 26, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.092.
Abstract
Beijing, the capital of China, has experienced rapid industrialization, urbanization and motorization in recent decades. Consequently, air pollution in Beijing, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, has gradually become a severe environmental issue, due to the continuing growth in energy consumption and the resulting multiple pollutant emissions. In response to the increasingly serious PM2.5 pollution, Beijing's government implemented a series of policies, measures and regulations on air pollution prevention and control and took some concrete actions to improve air quality. In this paper, firstly, we summarize China's ambient air quality standards, China's policies and regulations on air pollution prevention and control. Secondly, we illustrate historical evolution and current status of air pollution in Beijing. Finally, we introduce control measures and actions in Beijing and its surrounding areas. The paper aims to help environmental scientists and policy makers around the world understand the past and current air pollution in Beijing and control strategies and actions taken by Beijing's government.
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
Hefeng Zhang
Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Expertise: Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Science, Technology and Environmental Politics
Publications:
Comparative analysis of chemical composition and sources of aerosol particles in urban Beijing during clear, hazy, and dusty days using single particle aerosol mass spectrometry, Journal of Cleaner Production, Available online 25 April 2015, ISSN 0959-6526, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.054.
Shuxiao Wang
School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
Expertise: emission characteristics of air pollutants, local and regional air pollution modeling and control policies, Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric Chemistry
Publications:
The variation of chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 and formation causes during two haze pollution events in urban Beijing, China http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.02.022
Public health benefits of reducing air pollution in Shanghai: A proof-of-concept methodology with application to BenMAP http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.113.
Jiming Hao
School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
Expertise: Air pollution control, Energy and environment, Vehicle emission control
Xinming Wang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
Expertise: Geochemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry
Shulan Wang
Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Expertise: Air pollution characteristics, source analysis, control and management
Fahe Chai
Atmospheric Environment Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Expertise: Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Science, Technology and Environmental Politics
Mei Li
Atmospheric Environment Institute of Safety and Pollution Control, Jinan University, Guangdong, 510632, China
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
Firstly, the paper introduced national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in China, ‘Joint Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’, ‘Action Plan of Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’, and ‘Action Plan of Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in Beijing - Tianjin - Hebei region and Surrounding Area’. Afterwards, it presents the historical evolution of major air pollutants analyzed the current status of Beijing's air pollution. Finally, it covers control measures and actions taken in Beijing and its neighboring area.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
In the 2rd section of the paper, it uses descriptive words along with diagrams and charts to demonstrate the development and changes of China’s NAAQS starting from 1982 when NAASQS were originally formulated. It also introduces ‘Joint Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’ which is the first comprehensive policy document to improve regional and urban air quality in China. ‘Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’ which was covered in my annotation of the previous week is also mentioned.
In the 3rd section of the paper, the author uses diagrams to show that PM10 in Beijing was steadily decreasing since 1998 but still above the limit value and PM2.5 has become the primary air pollutant in Beijing. The SO2 concentration is dropping to below the limiting value and NOx concentration has decreased as well.
In the 4th section, the paper covers the control actions during the period of 29th Summer Olympic Games. Starting 2003, Beijing reduced industrial coal consumption, constructed desulfurization, dust removal and denitrification facilities and controlled vehicle emission. It also presents “Clean Air Action Plan” and “Air Pollution Prevention and Control regulations” which mainly focus on control of vehicle emission pollution and coal-fired pollution.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
“We review recent advances about China's ambient air quality standards, policies and regulations on air pollution prevention and control in China, illustrate historical evolution and current status of Beijing's air pollution, and present control measures and actions taken by Beijing's government.”
“In addition, it can be concluded from Fig. 3 that from 2008 through 2013, the PM2.5/PM10 ratio in Beijing increased from 0.61 in 2008 to 0.82 in 2013, indicating that particulate pollution was mainly dominated by PM2.5 pollution in Beijing. “
“Among these local emission sources, the four major contributors to Beijing's PM2.5 were motor vehicle (31.1%), coal combustion (22.4%), industrial production (18.1%), fugitive dusts (14.3%). “
“This study can provide the basic information about China's urban air pollution for scientists and governments in the world, which help have a good knowledge about the current status of urban air pollution in China and assess the effectiveness of control measures and actions taken by Chinese government.”
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?
I think the methods they used are extensive research of online articles regarding the topic and referencing and interpreting data from governmental sources.
They used data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics for GDP, energy consumption and data from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau for PM10, SO2 and NO2 and data from U S Embassy for PM2.5. Some of the figures didn’t have the source listed.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
No, it doesn’t address health disparities.
Where has this article or report been referenced or discussed? (In some journals, you can see this in a sidebar.)
The paper is available online after May 1st 2015. It’s a relatively new article. It hasn’t been cited yet.
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
Many of the bibliography are used in the introductory part of the article. Author constructs most part of the article with analysis and references of governmental data. Some of the citations were used to provide slightly more depth for some aspects of the topic.
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?
I followed up on impact of 2008 Olympic Game on air quality in Beijing, PM2.5 pollution in Beijing (e.g. heavy haze pollution episodes in January 2013) and governmental control strategies regarding PM2.5 pollution.