Articles | Volume 20, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9351-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9351-2020
Research article
 | 
11 Aug 2020
Research article |  | 11 Aug 2020

Scattered coal is the largest source of ambient volatile organic compounds during the heating season in Beijing

Yuqi Shi, Ziyan Xi, Maimaiti Simayi, Jing Li, and Shaodong Xie

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Beijing had suffered from severe haze pollution prior to the rigorous emission limitations enacted in 2017. We identified scattered coal burning as the largest contributor to ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the heating season before 2017. The prohibition of scattered coal burning mitigated VOC emissions during winter, but traffic-related sources then became the greatest contributor. However, in other regions, scattered coal burning might still be the key to improve air quality.
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