Characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol in the region of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, China

More than 400 PM2.5 samples were collected at four urban sites in Beijing (BJ), Tianjin (TJ), Shijiazhuang (SJZ), and Chengde (CD), and also one site in Shangdianzi (SDZ), which was used as a regional background station, over four seasons from 2009 to 2010. The organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in each sample were analyzed. The average annual concentrations were 71.8–191.2 μg m−3 for PM2.5, 10.8–26.4 μg m−3 for OC, and 3.9–9.7 μg m−3 for EC at the five sites. OC and EC concentrations were lower in the spring and summer and much higher in the autumn and winter, mainly due to aerosol emissions from additional fuel combustion for heating. OC/EC ratios were lowest in the summer and highest in the winter at SDZ, BJ, TJ, and SJZ. These seasonal trends indicate that the characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol pollution were spatially similar and season-dependent in the plain area of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei (BTH). An EC tracer method was used to calculate the concentrations for secondary organic carbon (SOC); SOC concentrations were also higher in the autumn and winter and lowest during the summer at all five sites. A stable atmosphere and low temperatures, which were more frequent during the winter and autumn, facilitated the accumulation of air pollutants and accelerated the condensation or adsorption of volatile organic compounds in the BTH area. Over the past ten years (1999–2009), Beijing had observed a decrease in the EC concentrations during every season and a remarkable reduction in aerosol emissions from coal combustion for heating.

► OC, EC, and OC/EC were spatially similar and season-dependent in the BTH area.
► OC and EC were higher in the autumn and winter due to more fuel combustion for heating.
► OC and EC in all four seasons have decreased in Beijing over the past ten years.
► SOC concentrations were also higher in the autumn and winter at five sites.