Estimating the effects of meteorology on PM_2.5 reduction during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China

Abstract

Particulate pollution was a critical challenge to the promise of good air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which took place from August 8th to 24th. To ensure good air quality for the Games, several temporary emission control measures were implemented in Beijing and surrounding areas. Ambient particulate matter concentration decreased significantly during the Olympic period; however, it is difficult to distinguish the effectiveness of those control measures since meteorology also affects ambient PM_2.5 concentration. In this work, a multiple linear regression model based on continuous field monitoring at a roadside site was conducted to evaluate the effects of meteorology and emission control measures on the reduction of PM_2.5 during the 2008 Olympic Games. The hourly data set was divided into two time periods, the no control period, June 22nd to July 4th, and the control period, July 28th to August 21st. The response variable was PM_2.5 and the meteorology covariates used in the model were hourly temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed and precipitation. Wind direction was not a significant predictor of PM_2.5 levels in either the control or the no control period. Using the meteorologically-based regression coefficients from the two time periods, meteorology was found to contribute to at least a 16% reduction in PM_2.5 levels in the roadside microenvironment; while the pollution control measures contributed to at least a 43% reduction in PM_2.5 levels.

Keywords

meteorology / emission control measures / Beijing Olympic Games / PM_2.5 / linear statistical models

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Acknowledgements

The research described in this paper is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50908121 and 20521140077). We would like to thank the following statisticians who gave freely of their time to help us: Dr. John Monahan, N.C. State University; Dr. Paul Speckman, University of Missouri; Dr. Kristen Foley, Dr. Jenise Swall, and Mr. Bill Cox, US Environmental Protection Agency; Dr. Amy Nail, National Institute of Statistical Sciences. We would also like to thank Dr. Prakash Bhave of the US Environmental Protection Agency for his helpful comments on atmospheric chemistry.

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