Achievements and challenges in improving air quality in China: Analysis of the long-term trends from 2014 to 2022

Abstract

Due to the implementation of air pollution control measures in China, air quality has significantly improved, although there are still additional issues to be addressed. This study used the long-term trends of air pollutants to discuss the achievements and challenges in further improving air quality in China. The Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filter and multiple-linear regression (MLR) were used to quantify the meteorology-related and emission-related trends of air pollutants from 2014 to 2022 in China. The KZ filter analysis showed that PM2.5 decreased by 7.36 +/- 2.92% yr(-1), while daily maximum 8-h ozone (MDA8 O-3) showed an increasing trend with 3.71 +/- 2.89% yr(-1) in China. The decrease in PM2.5 and increase in MDA8 O-3 were primarily attributed to changes in emission, with the relative contribution of 85.8% and 86.0%, respectively. Meteorology variations, including increased ambient temperature, boundary layer height, and reduced relative humidity, also contributed to the reduction of PM2.5 and the enhancement of MDA8 O-3. The emission-related trends of PM2.5 and MDA8 O-3 exhibited continuous decrease and increase, respectively, from 2014 to 2022, while the variation rates slowed during 2018-2020 compared to that during 2014-2017, highlighting the challenges in further improving air quality, particularly in simultaneously reducing PM2.5 and O-3. This study recommends reducing NH3 emissions from the agriculture sector in rural areas and transport emissions in urban areas to further decrease PM2.5 levels. Addressing O-3 pollution requires the reduction of O-3 precursor gases based on site-specific atmospheric chemistry considerations.