ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Analysis on the Influence and Cause
of a Heavy Pollution Process on Air Quality
in Baoding during COVID-19
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1
College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Standards and Risk Assessment,
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
3
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu,
1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
Submission date: 2020-12-14
Final revision date: 2021-06-18
Acceptance date: 2021-07-27
Online publication date: 2021-12-20
Publication date: 2022-01-28
Corresponding author
Kai Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Standards and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(1):735-747
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ABSTRACT
Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, China had implemented a strict home isolation policy
after the Spring Festival, and human activities in many areas had been prohibited. However, Baoding
still suffered heavy air pollution during February 2020, especially in February 8-13. The results showed
that the concentrations of pollutants in February 2020 had a decrease from February 2019. The reduction
of human activities during the epidemic significantly decreased the concentration of air pollutants and
improved air quality. In addition, compared with non-pollution period (February 22-29), the PM2.5
concentration during pollution period (February 8-13) increased the most visibly. The analysis of OC
and EC shows that there was a certain amount of civil coal combustion during the heavy pollution
period; K+ and Mg2+ in PM2.5 revealed the huge influence of fireworks and firecrackers in Baoding.
The backward trajectory and potential source analysis indicated that Baoding was influenced by air
masses from southwest during the heavy pollution period, and the potential source areas were mainly
distributed in southwest of Baoding. It can be seen that the impact of pollutants in the superimposed
area of local emission and transportation with unfavorable meteorological condition in Baoding.