Effect of chemical composition of PM2.5 on visibility in Guangzhou, China, 2007 spring

The object of this study was to investigate the correlation of visibility with chemical composition of PM2.5 in Guangzhou. In April 2007, 28 PM2.5 samples were collected daily at the monitoring station of the South China Institute of Environmental Sciences (SCIES), in urban Guangzhou. Water-soluble ionic species (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, NH4+, K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) and carbonaceous contents (OC and EC) of the PM2.5 samples were determined to characterize their impact on visibility impairment. The results showed that sulfate was the dominant species that affected both light scattering and visibility. The average percentage contributions of the visibility-degrading species to light scattering coefficient were 40% for sulfate, 16% for nitrate, 22% for organics, and 22% for elemental carbon. Because of its foremost effect on visibility, sulfate reduction in PM2.5 would effectively improve the visibility of Guangzhou.