Long-term trend of haze pollution and impact of particulate matter in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Haze pollution caused by heavy particulate matter (PM) loading brings significant damage in eastern China. Long-term monitoring from 1980 to 2011 and 1-year field measurement in 2011-2012 are used for investigating visibility variation and the impact of PM pollution for the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). It was found that visual range in the YRD endured a sharp reduction from 132 km to 10.5 km during 1980 -2000. Average mass extinction efficiency (MEE) for inhalable PM (PM10) is 2.25 m(2)/g in 2001-2011, and extinction coefficient due to PM10 is 207 Min(-1), accounting for 36.2% of total extinction coefficient. MEE of PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 are 4.08 m(2)/g and 0.58 m(2)/g, respectively. Extinction coefficient due to PM2.5 and PM25-10 is 198 Mm(-1) (39.6%) and 20 Mm(-1) (4.0%) in 2011-2012. Maximum daily concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 is estimated to be 63 mu g/m(3) (RH: 73%) and 38 mu g/m(3) (RH: 70%) to keep visual range above 10 km. Fine particulate matter is the key factor for haze pollution improvement in the YRD area. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.