Combined Effects of Photochemical Processes, Pollutant Sources and Urban Configuration on Photochemical Pollutant Concentrations

Jie Liang, Liyue Zeng, Shengzhen Zhou, Xuemei Wang, Jiajia Hua, Xuelin Zhang, Zhongli Gu and Lejian He
Additional contact information
Jie Liang: School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Liyue Zeng: School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Shengzhen Zhou: School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Xuemei Wang: Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Jiajia Hua: China Meteorological Administration Xiong’an Atmospheric Boundary Layer Key Laboratory, Xiong’an 071700, China
Xuelin Zhang: School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Zhongli Gu: Guangdong Fans-Tech Agro Co., Ltd., Yunfu 527300, China
Lejian He: College of Engineering, Cornell University, 500 Hanshaw Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: Rapid urbanization, dense urban configuration and increasing traffic emissions have caused severe air pollution, resulting in severe threats to public health. Particularly, photochemical pollution is associated with chemical transformation introducing more complexity. The understanding of the combined effects of pollutant sources, urban configuration and chemical transformation is still insufficient because most previous studies focused on non-reactive pollutant dispersions. In this study, we adopt a simplified street network model including complex photochemical reactions, i.e., the Model of Urban Network of Intersecting Canyons and Highways (MUNICH), with the real traffic and street data of a region in Guangzhou to investigate the combined effects of the three factors above on photochemical pollution. Our simulations show that the overall reduction in traffic emissions decreases NO x pollution while increasing O 3 concentration. Controlling VOC emission can effectively mitigate O 3 pollution. Moreover, irregular building heights and arrangements can lead to certain hot spots of air pollution. High-rise buildings will obstruct ventilation and exacerbate pollution. If higher buildings have lower vehicle use, the deep canyon can offset the effect of lower emissions. In conclusion, urban planners and policy makers should avoid deep canyons and irregular street networks to achieve better pollutant dispersion and pay attention to controlling VOC emissions.

Keywords: NO x -O 3 -VOC chemistry; street arrangement; urban street network; traffic emission; urban air pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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