Emission inventory of air pollutants and chemical speciation for specific anthropogenic sources based on local measurements in the Yangtze River Delta region, China

A high-resolution air pollutant emission inventory for the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region was updated for 2017 using emission factors and chemical speciation based mainly on local measurements in this study. The inventory included 424 non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and 43 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) species from 259 specific sources. The total emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOCs, PM10, PM2.5, and NH3 in the YRD region in 2017 were 1552, 3235, 38 507, 4875, 3770, 1597, and 2467 Gg, respectively. SO2 and CO emissions were mainly from boilers, accounting for 49 % and 73 % of the total. Mobile sources dominated NOx emissions, contributing 57 % of the total. NMVOC emissions, mainly from industrial sources, made up 61 % of the total. Dust sources accounted for 55 % and 28 % of PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, respectively. Agricultural sources accounted for 91 % of NH3 emissions. Major PM2.5 species were OC, Ca, Si, PSO4, and EC, accounting for 9.0 %, 7.0 %, 6.4 %, 4.6 %, and 4.3 % of total PM2.5 emissions, respectively. The main species of NMVOCs were aromatic hydrocarbons, making up 25.3 % of the total. Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) contributed 21.9 % of the total NMVOC emissions. Toluene had the highest comprehensive contribution to ozone (O-3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potentials, while other NMVOCs included 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, propylene, ethene, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene. Industrial process and solvent-use sources were the main sources of O-3 and SOA formation potential, followed by motor vehicles. Among industrial sources, chemical manufacturing, rubber and plastic manufacturing, appliance manufacturing, and textiles made significant contributions. This emission inventory should provide scientific guidance for future control of air pollutants in the YRD region of China.

Automated summary

This study updated a high-resolution air pollutant emission inventory for the Yangtze River Delta region in 2017, showing that coal-fired boilers were the main sources of SO2 and CO, mobile sources dominated NOx emissions, industrial sources were the main contributors to NMVOC emissions, agriculture was the main source of NH3 emissions, and dust sources were the major contributors to PM10 and PM2.5 emissions.