Articles | Volume 25, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-13007-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-13007-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Different response characteristics of ambient hazardous trace metals and health impacts to global emission reduction
Wenwen Sun
Department of Research, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai 201318, China
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
College of Medical Technology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China
Xing Liu
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Coastal Ecosystem, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
Rui Li
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Related authors
Rui Li, Yining Gao, Lijia Zhang, Yubing Shen, Tianzhao Xu, Wenwen Sun, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7623–7636, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7623-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7623-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A three-stage model was developed to obtain the global maps of reactive nitrogen components during 2000–2100. The results implied that cross-validation R2 values of four species showed satisfactory performance (R2 > 0.55). Most reactive nitrogen components, except NH3, in China showed increases during 2000–2013. In the future scenarios, SSP3-7.0 (traditional-energy scenario) and SSP1-2.6 (carbon neutrality scenario) showed the highest and lowest reactive nitrogen component concentrations.
Rui Li, Xing Liu, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Xi Liu, and Guitao Shi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 9263–9274, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9263-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9263-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We reveal for the first time the global variations of PAHs and derivatives in marine air. We found that marine aerosols in East China Sea (ECS) and Western Pacific (WP) were significantly affected by coal and engine combustion, while those in Bismarck Sea (BS) and East Australian Sea (EAS) were mainly influenced by wildfire and coal combustion. The Antarctic Ocean (AO) was dominated by biomass burning and local shipping emissions. This finding helps elucidate the mechanism of the global PAH cycle.
Binyu Xiao, Fan Zhang, Zeyu Liu, Yan Zhang, Rui Li, Can Wu, Xinyi Wan, Yi Wang, Yubao Chen, Yong Han, Min Cui, Libo Zhang, Yingjun Chen, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7053–7069, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7053-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7053-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Intermediate-volatility/semi-volatile organic compounds in gas and particle phases from ship exhausts are enhanced due to the switch of fuels from low sulfur to ultra-low sulfur. The findings indicate that optimization is necessary for the forthcoming global implementation of an ultra-low-sulfur oil policy. Besides, we find that organic diagnostic markers of hopanes in conjunction with the ratio of octadecanoic to tetradecanoic could be considered potential tracers for heavy fuel oil exhausts.
Rui Li, Dongmei Tang, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, and Hongfang Zhao
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-847, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-847, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In both of historical and future scenarios, Sub-Sahara Africa (SS) and South America (SA) showed the highest fire-sourced MDA 8-hour average (MDA8) O3 concentrations. However, the crop production losses (CPL) caused by O3 exposure reached the highest values in China. The emission control measures largely decreased the O3 damage to crop in China instead of SS and SA.
Baoye Hu, Naihua Chen, Rui Li, Mingqiang Huang, Jinsheng Chen, Youwei Hong, Lingling Xu, Xiaolong Fan, Mengren Li, Lei Tong, Qiuping Zheng, and Yuxiang Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 905–921, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-905-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-905-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Box modeling with the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) was used to explore summertime peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) formation and its link to aerosol pollution under high-ozone conditions. The MCM model is effective in the study of PAN photochemical formation and performed better during the clean period than the haze period. Machine learning analysis identified ammonia, nitrate, and fine particulate matter as the top three factors contributing to simulation bias.
Si Zhang, Yining Gao, Xinbei Xu, Luyao Chen, Can Wu, Zheng Li, Rongjie Li, Binyu Xiao, Xiaodi Liu, Rui Li, Fan Zhang, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 14177–14190, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14177-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14177-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) from acetone photooxidation in the presence of various seeds were studied to illustrate SOA formation kinetics under ammonia-rich conditions. The oxidation mechanism of acetone was investigated using an observation-based model incorporating a Master Chemical Mechanism model. A higher SOA yield of acetone was observed compared to methylglyoxal due to an enhanced uptake of the small photooxidation products of acetone.
Xinbei Xu, Yining Gao, Si Zhang, Luyao Chen, Rongjie Li, Zheng Li, Rui Li, and Gehui Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3046, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3046, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
This work systematically explained the nonlinear effect of NOx level on isoprene-SOA mass yield through a series of chamber experiments. We found that the turning point under various oxidants was smaller than previous reported in the presence of OH precursors, which could be attributed to the RO2 pathway competition in nucleation and condensation of low volatile products. The highest SOA yield was at a branching ratio β of 0.5, which can be used as a reference for field campaign and modeling.
Can Wu, Xiaodi Liu, Ke Zhang, Si Zhang, Cong Cao, Jianjun Li, Rui Li, Fan Zhang, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9263–9275, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9263-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9263-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Brown carbon (BrC) is prevalent in the troposphere and can efficiently absorb solar and terrestrial radiation. Our observations show that the enhanced light absorption of BrC relative to black carbon at the tropopause can be attributed to the formation of nitrogen-containing organic compounds through the aqueous-phase reactions of carbonyls with ammonium.
Fan Zhang, Binyu Xiao, Zeyu Liu, Yan Zhang, Chongguo Tian, Rui Li, Can Wu, Yali Lei, Si Zhang, Xinyi Wan, Yubao Chen, Yong Han, Min Cui, Cheng Huang, Hongli Wang, Yingjun Chen, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8999–9017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8999-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8999-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Mandatory use of low-sulfur fuel due to global sulfur limit regulations means large uncertainties in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. On-board tests of VOCs from nine cargo ships in China were carried out. Results showed that switching from heavy-fuel oil to diesel increased emission factor VOCs by 48 % on average, enhancing O3 and the secondary organic aerosol formation potential. Thus, implementing a global ultra-low-sulfur oil policy needs to be optimized in the near future.
Shijie Liu, Xinbei Xu, Si Zhang, Rongjie Li, Zheng Li, Can Wu, Rui Li, Guiqin Zhang, and Gehui Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1599, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1599, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We conducted α-pinene photooxidation experiments in an atmospheric chamber at different NOx concentrations. The increased distribution coefficient of the oxidation products between the aerosol and gas phases with NOx was responsible for the increased SOA yields with NOx under low-NOx conditions. We also found the fraction of SOA made up of nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) increased with NOx.
Rui Li, Yining Gao, Lijia Zhang, Yubing Shen, Tianzhao Xu, Wenwen Sun, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7623–7636, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7623-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7623-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A three-stage model was developed to obtain the global maps of reactive nitrogen components during 2000–2100. The results implied that cross-validation R2 values of four species showed satisfactory performance (R2 > 0.55). Most reactive nitrogen components, except NH3, in China showed increases during 2000–2013. In the future scenarios, SSP3-7.0 (traditional-energy scenario) and SSP1-2.6 (carbon neutrality scenario) showed the highest and lowest reactive nitrogen component concentrations.
Rui Li, Yining Gao, Yubao Chen, Meng Peng, Weidong Zhao, Gehui Wang, and Jiming Hao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4709–4726, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4709-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4709-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A random forest model was used to isolate the effects of emission and meteorology to trace elements in PM2.5 in Tangshan. The results suggested that control measures facilitated decreases of Ga, Co, Pb, Zn, and As, due to the strict implementation of coal-to-gas strategies and optimisation of industrial structure and layout. However, the deweathered levels of Ca, Cr, and Fe only displayed minor decreases, indicating that ferrous metal smelting and vehicle emission controls should be enhanced.
Chaohao Ling, Lulu Cui, and Rui Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3311–3324, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3311-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3311-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
An ensemble machine-learning model coupled with chemical transport models (CTMs) was applied to assess the impact of COVID-19 on ambient benzene. The change ratio of the deweathered benzene concentration from the pre-lockdown to lockdown period was in the order of India (−23.6 %) > Europe (−21.9 %) > the United States (−16.2 %) > China (−15.6 %), which might be associated with local serious benzene pollution and substantial emission reduction in the industrial and transportation sectors.
Rui Li, Yilong Zhao, Hongbo Fu, Jianmin Chen, Meng Peng, and Chunying Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8677–8692, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8677-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8677-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Based on a random forest model, the strict lockdown measures significantly decreased primary components such as Cr (−67 %) and Fe (−61 %) in PM2.5 (p < 0.01), whereas the higher relative humidity (RH) and NH3 level and the lower air temperature (T) remarkably enhanced the production of secondary aerosol including SO42− (29 %), NO3− (29 %), and NH4+ (21 %) (p < 0.05). The natural experiment suggested that the NH3 emission should be strictly controlled.
Rui Li, Lulu Cui, Yilong Zhao, Wenhui Zhou, and Hongbo Fu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2147–2163, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2147-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2147-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A unique monthly NO3− dataset at 0.25° resolution over China during 2005–2015 was developed by assimilating multi-source variables. The newly developed product featured an excellent cross-validation R2 value (0.78) and relatively lower RMSE (1.19 μg N m−3) and mean absolute error (MAE: 0.81 μg N m−3). The dataset also exhibited relatively robust performance at the spatial and temporal scales. The dataset over China could deepen knowledge of the status of N pollution in China.
Cited articles
Al-Sulaiti, M. M., Soubra, L., and Al-Ghouti, M. A.: The causes and effects of mercury and methylmercury contamination in the marine environment: A review, Curr. Pollut. Rep., 8, 249–272, 2022.
Bai, X., Tian, H., Zhu, C., Luo, L., Hao, Y., Liu, S., Guo, Z., Lv, Y., Chen, D., and Chu, B.: Present knowledge and future perspectives of atmospheric emission inventories of toxic trace elements: a critical review, Environ., Sci., Technol., 57, 1551–1567, 2023.
Chang, Y., Huang, R. J., Ge, X., Huang, X., Hu, J., Duan, Y., Zou, Z., Liu, X., and Lehmann, M. F.: Puzzling haze events in China during the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL088533, 2020.
Cheng, K., Wang, Y., Tian, H., Gao, X., Zhang, Y., Wu, X., Zhu, C., and Gao, J.: Atmospheric emission characteristics and control policies of five precedent-controlled toxic heavy metals from anthropogenic sources in China, Environ., Sci., Technol., 49, 1206–1214, 2015.
da Fonseca, E. M., Nattrass, N., Lazaro, L. L. B., and Bastos, F. I.: Political discourse, denialism and leadership failure in Brazil's response to COVID-19, Glob. Public Health, 16, 1251–1266, 2021.
Das, S., Prospero, J. M., and Chellam, S.: Quantifying international and interstate contributions to primary ambient PM2.5 and PM10 in a complex metropolitan atmosphere, Atmos. Environ., 292, 119415, 2023.
Doumbia, T., Granier, C., Elguindi, N., Bouarar, I., Darras, S., Brasseur, G., Gaubert, B., Liu, Y., Shi, X., Stavrakou, T., Tilmes, S., Lacey, F., Deroubaix, A., and Wang, T.: Changes in global air pollutant emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a dataset for atmospheric modeling, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 4191–4206, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4191-2021, 2021.
Farahani, V. J., Soleimanian, E., Pirhadi, M., and Sioutas, C.: Long-term trends in concentrations and sources of PM2.5-bound metals and elements in central Los Angeles, Atmos. Environ., 253, 118361, 2021.
Guo, F., Tang, M., Wang, X., Yu, Z., Wei, F., Zhang, X., Jin, M., Wang, J., Xu, D., and Chen, Z.: Characteristics, sources, and health risks of trace metals in PM2.5, Atmos. Environ., 289, 119314, 2022.
Huang, X., Ding, A., Gao, J., Zheng, B., Zhou, D., Qi, X., Tang, R., Wang, J., Ren, C., and Nie, W.: Enhanced secondary pollution offset reduction of primary emissions during COVID-19 lockdown in China, Natl. Sci. Rev., 8, nwaa137, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaa137, 2021.
Huber, M., Welker, A., and Helmreich, B.: Critical review of heavy metal pollution of traffic area runoff: Occurrence, influencing factors, and partitioning, Sci. Total Environ., 541, 895–919, 2016.
Jia, M., Evangeliou, N., Eckhardt, S., Huang, X., Gao, J., Ding, A., and Stohl, A.: Black carbon emission reduction due to COVID-19 lockdown in China, Geophy. Res. Lett., 48, e2021GL093243, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093243, 2021.
Kan, X., Dong, Y., Feng, L., Zhou, M., and Hou, H.: Contamination and health risk assessment of heavy metals in China's lead–zinc mine tailings: A meta–analysis, Chemosphere, 267, 128909, doi10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128909, 2021.
Keller, C. A., Evans, M. J., Knowland, K. E., Hasenkopf, C. A., Modekurty, S., Lucchesi, R. A., Oda, T., Franca, B. B., Mandarino, F. C., Díaz Suárez, M. V., Ryan, R. G., Fakes, L. H., and Pawson, S.: Global impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the surface concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 3555–3592, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3555-2021, 2021.
La Colla, N. S., Botté, S. E., and Marcovecchio, J. E.: Atmospheric particulate pollution in South American megacities, Environ. Rev., 29, 415–429, 2021.
Li, H., Yao, J., Sunahara, G., Min, N., Li, C., and Duran, R.: Quantifying ecological and human health risks of metal (loid) s pollution from non-ferrous metal mining and smelting activities in Southwest China, Sci. Total Environ., 873, 162364, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162364, 2023a.
Li, R., Zhao, Y., Fu, H., Chen, J., Peng, M., and Wang, C.: Substantial changes in gaseous pollutants and chemical compositions in fine particles in the North China Plain during the COVID-19 lockdown period: anthropogenic vs. meteorological influences, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8677–8692, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8677-2021, 2021.
Li, R., Zhang, L., Gao, Y., and Wang, G.: Different Response Mechanisms of N-Bearing Components to Emission Reduction Across China During COVID-19 Lockdown Period, J. Geophys. Res., 128, e2023JD039496, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039496, 2023b.
Li, R., Gao, Y., Chen, Y., Peng, M., Zhao, W., Wang, G., and Hao, J.: Measurement report: Rapid changes of chemical characteristics and health risks for highly time resolved trace elements in PM2.5 in a typical industrial city in response to stringent clean air actions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4709–4726, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4709-2023, 2023c.
Liu, H., Jacob, D. J., Bey, I., and Yantosca, R. M.: Constraints from 210Pb and 7Be on wet deposition and transport in a global three-dimensional chemical tracer model driven by assimilated meteorological fields, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 12109–12128, 2001.
Liu, S., Tian, H., Bai, X., Zhu, C., Wu, B., Luo, L., Hao, Y., Liu, W., Lin, S., and Zhao, S.: Significant but spatiotemporal-heterogeneous health risks caused by airborne exposure to multiple toxic trace elements in China, Environ. Sci. Technol., 55, 12818–12830, 2021.
Loomis, D., Guha, N., Hall, A. L., and Straif, K.: Identifying occupational carcinogens: an update from the IARC Monographs, Occup. Environ. Med., 75, 593–603, 2018.
Mao, J., Jacob, D. J., Evans, M. J., Olson, J. R., Ren, X., Brune, W. H., Clair, J. M. St., Crounse, J. D., Spencer, K. M., Beaver, M. R., Wennberg, P. O., Cubison, M. J., Jimenez, J. L., Fried, A., Weibring, P., Walega, J. G., Hall, S. R., Weinheimer, A. J., Cohen, R. C., Chen, G., Crawford, J. H., McNaughton, C., Clarke, A. D., Jaeglé, L., Fisher, J. A., Yantosca, R. M., Le Sager, P., and Carouge, C.: Chemistry of hydrogen oxide radicals (HOx) in the Arctic troposphere in spring, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 5823–5838, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-5823-2010, 2010.
Marufi, N., Conti, G. O., Ahmadinejad, P., Ferrante, M., and Mohammadi, A. A.: Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk assessments of heavy metals contamination in drinking water supplies in Iran: a systematic review, Rev. Environ. Health, 39, 91–100, 2024.
McClymont, H. and Hu, W.: Weather variability and COVID-19 transmission: a review of recent research, Int. J. Env. Res. Pub. He. 18, 396, 2021.
Meo, S. A., Abukhalaf, A. A., Alomar, A. A., AlMutairi, F. J., Usmani, A. M., and Klonoff, D. C.: Impact of lockdown on COVID-19 prevalence and mortality during 2020 pandemic: observational analysis of 27 countries, Eur. J. Med. Res., 25, 1–7, 2020.
Nirmalkar, J., Haswani, D., Singh, A., Kumar, S., and Raman, R. S.: Concentrations, transport characteristics, and health risks of PM2.5-bound trace elements over a national park in central India, J. Environ. Manage., 293, 112904, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112904, 2021.
Onyeaka, H., Anumudu, C. K., Al-Sharify, Z. T., Egele-Godswill, E., Mbaegbu, P.: COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the global lockdown and its far-reaching effects, Sci. Progress, 104, 00368504211019854, https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504211019854, 2021.
Pacyna, J. M. and Pacyna, E. G.: An assessment of global and regional emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources worldwide, Environ. Rev., 9, 269–298, 2001.
Pan, Y. P. and Wang, Y. S.: Atmospheric wet and dry deposition of trace elements at 10 sites in Northern China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 951–972, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-951-2015, 2015.
Park, R. J., Jacob, D. J., Field, B. D., Yantosca, R. M., and Chin, M.: Natural and transboundary pollution influences on sulfate-nitrate-ammonium aerosols in the United States: Implications for policy, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D15024, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD004473, 2004.
Pearce, N., Blair, A., Vineis, P., Ahrens, W., Andersen, A., Anto, J. M., Armstrong, B. K., Baccarelli, A. A., Beland, F. A., and Berrington, A.: IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans, Environ. Health Persp., 123, 507–514, 2015.
Qiu, Y., Ma, Z., Li, K., Lin, W., Tang, Y., Dong, F., and Liao, H.: Markedly enhanced levels of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) during COVID-19 in Beijing, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL089623, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089623, 2020.
Saadat, S., Rawtani, D., and Hussain, C. M.: Environmental perspective of COVID-19, Sci. Total Environ., 728, 138870, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138870, 2020.
Şahin, M.: Impact of weather on COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, Sci. Total Environ., 728, 138810, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138810, 2020.
Sharma, A. K., Sharma, M., Sharma, A. K., and Sharma, M.: Mapping the impact of environmental pollutants on human health and environment: A systematic review and meta-analysis, J. Geochem. Explor., 255, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2023.107325, 107325, 2023.
Shi, X. and Brasseur, G. P.: The Response in Air Quality to the Reduction of Chinese Economic Activities during the COVID-19 Outbreak, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL088070, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088070, 2020.
Smith, L. V., Tarui, N., and Yamagata, T.: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on global fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, Energ. Econ., 97, 105170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105170, 2021.
Streets, D. G., Devane, M. K., Lu, Z., Bond, T. C., Sunderland, E. M., and Jacob, D. J.: All-time releases of mercury to the atmosphere from human activities, Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, (24), 10485–10491, https://doi.org/10.1021/es202765m, 2011.
Tikadar, K. K., Jahan, F., Mia, R., Rahman, M. Z., Sultana, M. A., Islam, S., Kunda, M.: Assessing the potential ecological and human health risks of trace metal pollution in surface water, sediment, and commercially valuable fish species in the Pashur River, Bangladeshm Environ. Monit. Assess., 196, 1042, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-13192-y, 2024.
Tørseth, K., Aas, W., Breivik, K., Fjæraa, A. M., Fiebig, M., Hjellbrekke, A. G., Lund Myhre, C., Solberg, S., and Yttri, K. E.: Introduction to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) and observed atmospheric composition change during 1972–2009, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 5447–5481, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-5447-2012, 2012.
Tzortziou, M., Kwong, C. F., Goldberg, D., Schiferl, L., Commane, R., Abuhassan, N., Szykman, J. J., and Valin, L. C.: Declines and peaks in NO2 pollution during the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the New York metropolitan area, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2399–2417, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2399-2022, 2022.
Venter, Z. S., Aunan, K., Chowdhury, S., and Lelieveld, J.: COVID-19 lockdowns cause global air pollution declines, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117, 18984–18990, 2020.
Wesely, M.: Parameterization of surface resistances to gaseous dry deposition in regional-scale numerical models, Atmos. Environ., 41, 52–63, 2007.
Wu, Y., Lin, S., Tian, H., Zhang, K., Wang, Y., Sun, B., Liu, X., Liu, K., Xue, Y., and Hao, J.: A quantitative assessment of atmospheric emissions and spatial distribution of trace elements from natural sources in China, Environ. Pollut., 259, 113918, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113918, 2020.
Xing, X., Xiong, Y., Yang, R., Wang, R., Wang, W., Kan, H., Lu, T., Li, D., Cao, J., Peñuelas, J.: Predicting the effect of confinement on the COVID-19 spread using machine learning enriched with satellite air pollution observations, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 118, e2109098118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2109098118, 2021.
Yu, S., Zhu, Y., Li, X.: Trace metal contamination in urban soils of China, Sci. Total Environ., 421, 17–30, 2012.
Zhang, H., Zhang, F., Song, J., Tan, M. L., Johnson, V. C.: Pollutant source, ecological and human health risks assessment of heavy metals in soils from coal mining areas in Xinjiang, China, Environ. Res., 202, 111702, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111702, 2021.
Zhang, L., Gao, Y., Wu, S., Zhang, S., Smith, K. R., Yao, X., and Gao, H.: Global impact of atmospheric arsenic on health risk: 2005 to 2015, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117, 13975–13982, 2020.
Zhou, J., Tian, H., Zhu, C., Hao, J., Gao, J., Wang, Y., Xue, Y., Hua, S., and Wang, K.: Future trends of global atmospheric antimony emissions from anthropogenic activities until 2050, Atmos. Environ., 120, 385–392, 2015.
Zhu, C., Tian, H., Hao, Y., Gao, J. J., Hao, J., Wang, Y., and Liu, H. J.: A high-resolution emission inventory of anthropogenic trace elements in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region of China, Atmos. Environ., 191, 452–462, 2018.
Zhu, C., Tian, H., and Hao, J.: Global anthropogenic atmospheric emission inventory of twelve typical hazardous trace elements, 1995–2012, Atmos. Environ., 220, 117061, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.117061, 2020.
Short summary
We predicted global variations in atmospheric nine hazardous trace metal levels and assess their responses to COVID-19 lockdown measures. The rise in Pb and Zn concentrations during lockdowns was primarily linked to sustained coal combustion and non-ferrous smelting activities. The reduced emissions of Pb and As during the lockdown period yielded the greatest health benefits. Targeting fossil fuel combustion should be prioritized in Pb and As mitigation strategies.
We predicted global variations in atmospheric nine hazardous trace metal levels and assess their...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint