{"title":"Seasonality, trends, and SOA formation potential of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds: Implications for pollution","authors":"Annada Padhi, Satheesh Chandran P.R, Suvarna Fadnavis","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing the global distribution and characteristics of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) is vital considering ongoing policy objectives. Due to the diversity in AVOCs emission sources and complex atmospheric transformation processes, understanding their seasonal cycles and role in forming secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is particularly important. We conducted a long-term analysis of ECHAM6-HAMMOZ (European Centre Hamburg version 6; HAM, Hamburg Aerosol Model; MOZ, Model for Ozone and related chemical tracers) model data, illustrating the spatial distribution of AVOCs simulated from 2001 to 2019. Sensitivity experiments involving doubling global anthropogenic volatile organic compounds emissions (DVOCS), compared to the control (CTL), reveal a significant increase (∼68 %) in AVOCs concentrations and pronounced seasonal variation during this period. Our findings show a rising trend in average AVOCs concentrations in Central Africa (∼0.003 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>), India (0.012 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>), and China (0.001 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>), alongside declines in the U.S. (−0.008 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>) and Europe (−0.01 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>) from 2001 to 2019. These regions exhibit high AVOCs concentrations from December to February and the lowest levels in June to August. Furthermore, doubling emissions results in an approximate ∼84 % increase in the secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP) of AVOCs, with peak SOAP levels occurring during winter. Our study suggests that rising AVOCs emissions will enhance SOA formation, thereby increasing secondary particle pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102765"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barbara Baesso Moura , Marisa Domingos , Emerson Alves da Silva , Jacopo Manzini , Elena Marra , Leonardo Lazzara , Rodrigo Fazani Esteves Sanches , Elena Paoletti , Yasutomo Hoshika
{"title":"Ozone effects in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants: Cultivar-specific responses and risk assessment","authors":"Barbara Baesso Moura , Marisa Domingos , Emerson Alves da Silva , Jacopo Manzini , Elena Marra , Leonardo Lazzara , Rodrigo Fazani Esteves Sanches , Elena Paoletti , Yasutomo Hoshika","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental sustainability of agricultural production faces critical challenges due to climate change, with tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) being a significant concern. This study investigates the dose-response (DR) relationship between O<sub>3</sub> exposure and leaf biomass (LB, as a proxy of coffee production) reduction in three coffee cultivars (<em>Coffea arabica</em> L. cv. Geisha, IAC99, and IAC62) using both exposure- (AOT40) and flux-based (POD<sub>Y</sub>) indices. Experiments were conducted in a Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE), where plants were exposed to ambient air (AA), 1.5 × AA, and 2.0 × AA O<sub>3</sub> levels. The study reports the O<sub>3</sub> visible foliar injury (O<sub>3</sub>_VFI) on <em>C. arabica</em> leaves for the first time. It also reveals that O<sub>3</sub> significantly reduced total LB in the Geisha and IAC62 cultivars compared to the less affected IAC99. The stomatal conductance model was parametrized to estimate stomatal O<sub>3</sub> uptake and understand each cultivar's physiological response to O<sub>3</sub> stress. The Geisha and IAC62 cultivars exhibited higher stomatal O<sub>3</sub> uptake due to relatively high maximum stomatal conductance (<em>g</em><sub>max</sub>) values compared to IAC99, leading to greater biomass loss under elevated O<sub>3</sub> conditions. The DR analysis identified POD<sub>1.5</sub> as the most appropriate index for assessing critical O<sub>3</sub> levels (CLs) for LB losses. Linear regression was suitable for representing the DR relationships, and the O<sub>3</sub> CL for a 4 % and 10 % LB reduction was estimated at 0.29 and 0.73 mmol m<sup>−2</sup> POD<sub>1.5</sub>, respectively. These findings underscore the necessity of cultivar-specific studies for accurate O<sub>3</sub> risk assessment and management in coffee production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102768"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alan Victor da Silva , Leonardo Furst , Yago A. Cipoli , Marlene J.S. Soares , Anabela G.A. Leitão , Manuel Feliciano , Célia A. Alves
{"title":"First long-term air quality assessment in Luanda, Angola: Performance evaluation of a low-cost monitoring station against reference equipment","authors":"Alan Victor da Silva , Leonardo Furst , Yago A. Cipoli , Marlene J.S. Soares , Anabela G.A. Leitão , Manuel Feliciano , Célia A. Alves","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102746","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-cost air quality monitoring stations (LCMS), which integrate sensors for gases and particulate matter (PM), offer an economical solution for expanding monitoring networks. However, their reliability requires validation, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions with limited infrastructure. This study presents the first long-term, continuous, multi-pollutant air quality assessment in Luanda, Angola - where no monitoring stations currently exist - by evaluating the performance of an LCMS against reference-grade equipment. Daily averages, correlation metrics (R<sup>2</sup>, RMSE), and a hybrid Bland-Altman/regression analyses were used to evaluate the agreement. Results indicated strong correlation for CO (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.96; RMSE = 0.24 ppm) and good for NO<sub>2</sub> (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.81; RMSE = 6.35 ppb), although limitations near detection limits were noted. Significant challenges were identified in O<sub>3</sub> measurements (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.77, RMSE = 7.13 ppb), primarily due to strong cross-sensitivity to high ambient NO<sub>2</sub> levels and potential sensor ageing. For PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>, although good linear correlations (R<sup>2</sup> ∼ 0.82) were observed with reference methods, the LCMS exhibited considerable systematic bias (RMSE over 46 μg/m<sup>−3</sup>) and consistently underestimate concentrations. The study also registered frequent and severe exceedances of WHO AQG and EU standards for PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub>, underscoring significant public health risks. Despite limitations, particularly for O<sub>3</sub> measurements and biases in PM data, the LCMS demonstrates potential as a cost-effective tool to complement reference networks, enhance spatial monitoring coverage, identify pollution hotspots, and support air quality management in resource-constrained settings, since continuous calibration and validation procedures are implemented to mitigate measurement uncertainties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102746"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chuqi Guo , Martine E. Mathieu-Campbell , Thomas Blanchard , Lavrent Khachatryan , Md Abdullah Al-Mamun , Qingzhao Yu , Myron Lard , Oluwafeyikemi Ogunmusi , Brenda Vallee , Wilma Subra , Iriel Edwards , David Malone , Slawo Lomnicki , Stephania A. Cormier , Jennifer Richmond-Bryant
{"title":"Persistent chemicals in particulate matter (PM) near a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility","authors":"Chuqi Guo , Martine E. Mathieu-Campbell , Thomas Blanchard , Lavrent Khachatryan , Md Abdullah Al-Mamun , Qingzhao Yu , Myron Lard , Oluwafeyikemi Ogunmusi , Brenda Vallee , Wilma Subra , Iriel Edwards , David Malone , Slawo Lomnicki , Stephania A. Cormier , Jennifer Richmond-Bryant","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102769","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Colfax, an overburdened community in central Louisiana, hosts the last commercially-operated open-burn/open-detonation (OB/OD) hazardous waste thermal treatment facility in the United States. Until December 2023 when their permit disallowed OB/OD, the facility processed military waste, fireworks, propellants, soils excavated from Superfund sites, and other hazardous materials. This community-engaged study measured ambient fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and metals using two high-volume PM<sub>2.5</sub> samplers deployed 1.2 mi and 9.0 mi from the facility from April, 2022 through February, 2023. Elevated PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations were recorded at both sites during spring and summer 2022. EPFR concentrations increased during fall and winter, coinciding with increases in PCDD/F but in contrast to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Similarities between the 1.2 mi and 9.0 mi sites for both PM<sub>2.5</sub> and EPFRs suggest a common emission source influencing concentrations at both sites. Regularized linear regression analyses indicated that EPFRs were significant predictors of PM<sub>2.5</sub> at both sites, with a markedly stronger effect at the 9.0 mi site than at 1.2 mi. Among the metals, Zn was consistently the strongest and most significant predictor of EPFRs and PM<sub>2.5</sub> across both sites and seasons, supported by both moderately high Pearson correlations and Elastic Net coefficients. Through this study, we aim to provide crucial information on exposure risks from an OB/OD facility with the goal of empowering exposed community members for mitigating their risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102769"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145628200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
José María Cordero , Jing Li , David de la Paz , Petros Koutrakis , Rafael Borge
{"title":"Corrigendum to “A two-stage algorithm to estimate ground-level PM2.5 concentration levels in Madrid (Spain) from AOD satellite data and surface proxies” [Atmos. Pollut. Res. 16/12 (2025) 102678]","authors":"José María Cordero , Jing Li , David de la Paz , Petros Koutrakis , Rafael Borge","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102777","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102777"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianchao Ma , Fan Liu , Xiaohong Zheng , Huijin Qian , Rui Qin , Hua Qian
{"title":"Health benefits of ventilation interventions to reduce fine particulate matter exposure in industrial environments","authors":"Jianchao Ma , Fan Liu , Xiaohong Zheng , Huijin Qian , Rui Qin , Hua Qian","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102750","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102750","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The health benefits (HBs) of implementing ventilation interventions aimed at reducing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) in industrial environments remain unclear. This study employed an existing HB assessment framework that integrates mass balance and concentration–response models to quantify the impact of various ventilation methods on workers' health. A Monte Carlo method was utilized to analyze the uncertainty of the evaluation parameters. The results indicated that PM<sub>2.5</sub> emission intensity, ventilation methods, ventilation rates, and filter types in industrial settings affect human exposure levels and associated health losses. Under natural ventilation conditions, the PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations in finishing and casting workshops were significantly higher than the threshold values, leading to worker health losses of 0.0115 and 0.0131 years/(year·person), respectively. Personalized ventilation exhibited superior PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure control compared with other global mechanical ventilation methods, resulting in lower health losses and greater health benefits. Compare with natural ventilation, personalized ventilation can diminish health losses for workers in finishing and casting workshops by 8.7 %–29.6 % and 0.8 %–8.3 %, respectively. These findings provide insights for effectively implementing ventilation strategies in industrial environments to mitigate health risks for workers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102750"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dong Chen , Zhuzi Zhao , Zhaolian Ye , Jiandong Wang
{"title":"Variations in aerosol optical properties and their sensitivity to elemental carbon: insights from year–round observations in Suzhou, China","authors":"Dong Chen , Zhuzi Zhao , Zhaolian Ye , Jiandong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current research predominantly emphasizes elemental carbon (EC) light absorption, while ignoring its relationship with aerosol hygroscopic scattering. In this study, concentrations and optical properties of aerosol components were measured during a full–year monitoring campaign at an urban site in Suzhou. Results from a multiple linear regression model suggested that secondary organic carbon was a primary contributor to high mass absorption efficiency of EC in summer. Through the estimation of aerosol scattering coefficients under both dry and ambient atmospheric conditions, it was found that hygroscopic growth accounted for more than 35.0 % of the total aerosol scattering coefficient. Hygroscopic growth of nitrate and sulfate enhanced their annual mean scattering contributions by 42.1 % and 45.2 %, respectively. A negative correlation between EC concentration and the hygroscopic growth factor (f(RH)) was observed under varying relative humidity (RH) conditions. Associated with the decrease in f(RH), reductions in PM<sub>2.5</sub> scattering coefficients (14.0 ± 2.2, 29.4 ± 5.2, and 24.5 ± 8.2 Mm<sup>−1</sup>) were linked to EC concentration increases of 0.37 ± 0.1, 0.40 ± 0.1, and 0.21 ± 0.1 μg/m<sup>3</sup> under low, medium, and high RH conditions, respectively. An increase in EC concentration by 0.19–0.37 μg/m<sup>3</sup> elevated the PM<sub>2.5</sub> absorption coefficient by 2.66–5.41 Mm<sup>−1</sup>, and reduced the scattering coefficient by 10.53–17.91 Mm<sup>−1</sup>. Collectively, increased EC concentrations reduced aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA), particularly under high RH conditions. This study reveals that EC not only reduces aerosol extinction coefficients but also shifts aerosol radiative forcing in a positive direction by suppressing hygroscopic scattering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102767"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experimental study on the control effect of the coupling effect of micro-differential pressure and ventilation system on indoor particulate matter migration","authors":"Yanhui Mao , Qiu Tu , Junjie He , Jianlin Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The creation of micro-pressure differences (MPDs) is an important strategy in indoor environments control, especially in medical isolation wards and residential buildings. To better understand the role of MPDs, this study systematically investigated the effect of MPDs on the control of particulate matter (PM) exposure in a full-scale experimental chamber, taking into account the pollutant source location, door opening and closing, and human walking factors. A negative pressure (NA) combined with positive pressure (PA) system was set up to further investigate the coupling effect of MPD and the ventilation system. Results showed that the creation of MPD significantly reduced the dispersion of PM, where the cumulative exposure level (CEL) was reduced by 61.5 % from the baseline when the source was located in NA. When the source was located in PA, the form of airflow organization had a significant effect on the performance of the coupling system. The side supply and side return airflows performed best, with relatively lower CEL value (6.06–7.29 × 10<sup>7</sup> particles cm<sup>−3</sup>) and the highest robustness (DR: 0.88) for door opening and closing and walking cases. In addition, the traditional metric (CEL, Welly-Riley equation) and new metric (robustness analysis: both PM removal efficiency and walking disturbance control effects) for evaluating ventilation systems were compared, and the Welly-Riley equation was used to correct the weights assigned to PM removal and walking disturbance in the robustness calculations. The highly stable ventilation configuration derived from the above metrics can provide design references for medical isolation wards and residential buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102780"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatio-temporal patterns and source attribution of dry-deposited particulates in Sfax, Tunisia","authors":"Fatma Sellami , Houda Baati , Sneha Gautam , Chafai Azri","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102771","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research involved the analysis of monthly dry-deposited particulate matter systematically collected from January 1 to December 30, 2020 across urban, suburban, and rural-agricultural environments in Sfax region (southern Tunisia). Temporal changes in selected water-soluble ions (Fe<sup>2+</sup>/Fe<sup>3+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, Cl<sup>−</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>) and heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cu) were systematically examined. Urban deposits showed the highest enrichment in trace metals, with rates fluctuating between 39 and 70 %, significantly surpassing suburban and rural ones. Rural deposits were notably enriched in NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> (more than 100 %), compared to suburban ones. To investigate spatial pollution trends and identify emission sources of such chemical constituents, the study employed inter-site comparisons, enrichment factor analysis, and multivariate statistical tools. The findings revealed that, alongside natural influences such as Saharan dust intrusions and marine breezes, anthropogenic inputs and local dynamics significantly shaped the observed pollutant patterns. Additionally, multiple linear regression models revealed that site-specific deposition flows to both natural (crustal and marine) and anthropogenic contributions, indicating localized turbulence overrides regional meteorological effects. This study is among the first in southern Tunisia to integrate chemical composition, spatial source attribution, and meteorological parameters to comprehensively characterize dry particulate deposition across a land-use gradient. The local turbulence and dust resuspension processes highlighted challenges in generalizing predictive models across varying environmental contexts. The results obtained from this research emphasize the critical need to implement effective mesoscale air quality management and mitigation strategies to reduce particulate deposition and heavy metal contamination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102771"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdoulaye Boré , Jicui Cui , Guanyi Chen , Nickolas J. Themelis , Wenchao Ma
{"title":"Understanding the evolution of municipal solid waste incineration emissions in China: Patterns, determinants, and control measures","authors":"Abdoulaye Boré , Jicui Cui , Guanyi Chen , Nickolas J. Themelis , Wenchao Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration has become central to China's waste management strategy, driven by rapid urbanization, environmental constraints, and energy recovery goals. This study evaluates the evolution of MSW incineration emissions between 2005 and 2020 across 510 waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities nationwide, using a multi-pollutant framework involving nine major emissions. These pollutants include NO<sub>x</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, PM, HCl, CO, dioxins, Hg, Cd + Tl, and Sb + As + Pb + Cr + Co + Cu + Mn + Ni. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) was used to explore the impact of socioeconomic factors, treatment structures, and emission intensities. The results reveal a multi-phase, policy-driven emission trajectory shaped by technological transformation, regulatory milestones, and regional inequalities. Three policy phases were identified, corresponding to national Five-Year Plans (FYPs). During the 13<sup>th</sup> FYP (2016–2020), emission intensity (EI) reductions accounted for over 80 % of net SO<sub>2</sub> and PM emission declines, and more than 60 % for dioxins and HCl, driven by advanced flue gas treatment and moving grate (MG) incinerator adoption. Despite national improvements, regional disparities persist. Larger incinerators (≥1000 t/d) showed 40–60 % lower emissions than smaller ones (≤300 t/d), while NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations remained high across all plant sizes. This research highlights the critical role of policy and technology in driving emission reductions, while also exposing governance and infrastructure gaps that undermine progress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102741"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}