Sources and characteristic components of atmospheric organic aerosols in the autumn suburbs of Guangzhou

LIAO Yun-qian; YU Miao; LIANG Lin; WANG Xiao-yue; YIN Jian-fan; FANG Ze; CHANG Ming; YUAN Bin; SHAO Min; HUANG Shan

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1) : 53-65.

Air Pollution Control

Sources and characteristic components of atmospheric organic aerosols in the autumn suburbs of Guangzhou

LIAO Yun-qian, YU Miao, LIANG Lin, WANG Xiao-yue, YIN Jian-fan, FANG Ze, CHANG Ming, YUAN Bin, SHAO Min, HUANG Shan

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Abstract

A two-month observation of atmospheric PM₁ in suburban Guangzhou in autumn 2022 was conducted using a Soot-Particle High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SP-AMS). Sources apportionment of organic aerosol (OA) was performed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). OA’s characteristic component particulate organic nitrates (pON) were quantified and explored. During the observation period, PM[ (15.90 ± 12.28) μg/m³] was dominated by organics (57.8%), with major components (excluding sulfate) exhibiting higher nocturnal concentrations than diurnal concentrations. OA was mainly contributedby local secondary formation (28.3%), long-range transport (23.9%), and primary emissions such as cooking, vehicle exhaust, and biomass burning (collectively 47.8%). pON contributed significantly to OA (24.7%), increasing markedly under low total nitrate concentrations. Its nocturnal increase may enhance next-day atmospheric oxidation capacity. pON mainly derived from local secondary formation (51.5%) and vehicle exhaust (39.8%). During high PM events, OA was dominated by local secondary formation and vehicle emissions; during high ozone conditions, organics and sulfate showed pronounced midday peaks (photochemical oxidation), secondary OA contribution rose to 59.8%, and pON was primarily from local secondary formation (60.8%).

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submicron particles (PM₁) / organic aerosol / source apportionment / organic nitrates / Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

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LIAO Yun-qian, YU Miao, LIANG Lin, WANG Xiao-yue, YIN Jian-fan, FANG Ze, CHANG Ming, YUAN Bin, SHAO Min, HUANG Shan. Sources and characteristic components of atmospheric organic aerosols in the autumn suburbs of Guangzhou[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(1): 53-65

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