Halogens Enhance Haze Pollution in China
Li, Qinyi (Instituto de Química Física "Rocasolano")
Fu, Xiao (Tsinghua University. Institute of Environment and Ecology)
Peng, Xiang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Wang, Weihao (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Badia, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Fernandez, Rafael Pedro (Instituto de Química Física "Rocasolano")
Cuevas Rodríguez, Carlos Alberto (Instituto de Química Física "Rocasolano")
Mu, Yujing (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Chen, Jianmin (Fudan University. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering)
Jimenez, Jose L. (University of Colorado. Department of Chemistry)
Wang, Tao (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Saiz-Lopez, Alfonso (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Severe and persistent haze events in northern China, characterized by high loading of fine aerosol especially of secondary origin, negatively impact human health and the welfare of ecosystems. However, current knowledge cannot fully explain the formation of this haze pollution. Despite field observations of elevated levels of reactive halogen species (e. g. , BrCl, ClNO, Cl, HBr) at several sites in China, the influence of halogens (particularly bromine) on haze pollution is largely unknown. Here, for the first time, we compile an emission inventory of anthropogenic bromine and quantify the collective impact of halogens on haze pollution in northern China. We utilize a regional model (WRF-Chem), revised to incorporate updated halogen chemistry and anthropogenic chlorine and bromine emissions and validated by measurements of atmospheric pollutants and halogens, to show that halogens enhance the loading of fine aerosol in northern China (on average by 21%) and especially its secondary components (∼130% for secondary organic aerosol and ∼20% for sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium aerosols). Such a significant increase is attributed to the enhancement of atmospheric oxidants (OH, HO, O, NO, Cl, and Br) by halogen chemistry, with a significant contribution from previously unconsidered bromine. These results show that higher recognition of the impact of anthropogenic halogens shall be given in haze pollution research and air quality regulation. Anthropogenic emission of reactive halogens boosts the production of secondary aerosols leading to air quality degradation and calling for regulation.
Grants:	European Commission 726349
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Reactive halogen species ; Secondary aerosol ; Haze pollution ; Anthropogenic bromine emission ; WRF-Chem
Published in:	Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 55, Issue 20 (October 2021) , p. 13625-13637, ISSN 1520-5851

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01949
PMID: 34591460

13 p, 6.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles