The reduction of summer sulfate and switch from summertime to wintertime PM_(2.5) concentration maxima in the United States

摘要

AbstractExposure to particulate matter air pollution with a nominal mean aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5) has been associated with health effects including cardiovascular disease and death. Here, we add to the understanding of urban and rural PM2.5concentrations over large spatial and temporal scales in recent years. We used high-quality, publicly-available air quality monitoring data to evaluate PM2.5concentration patterns and changes during the years 2000–2015. Compiling and averaging measurements collected across the U.S. revealed that PM2.5concentrations from urban sites experienced seasonal maxima in both winter and summer. Within each year from 2000 to 2008, the maxima of urban summer peaks were greater than winter peaks. However, from 2012 to 2015, the maxima of urban summertime PM2.5peaks were smaller than the urban wintertime PM2.5maxima, due to a decrease in the magnitude of summertime maxima with no corresponding decrease in the magnitude of winter maxima. PM2.5measurements at rural sites displayed summer peaks with magnitudes relatively similar to those of urban sites, and negligible to no winter peaks through the time period analyzed. Seasonal variations of urban and rural PM2.5sulfate, PM2.5nitrate, and PM2.5organic carbon (OC) were also assessed. Summer peaks in PM2.5sulfate decreased dramatically between 2000 and 2015, whereas seasonal PM2.5OC and winter PM2.5nitrate concentration maxima remained fairly consistent. These findings demonstrate that PM2.5concentrations, especially those occurring in the summertime, have declined in the U.S. from 2000 to 2015. In addition, reduction strategies targeting sulfate have been successful and the decrease in PM2.5sulfate contributed to the decline in total PM2.5.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Urban PM2.5concentrations peak in both the summer and winter in the U.S.•Rural PM2.5concentrations peak in the summer in the U.S.•PM2.5seasonal maxima have diminished more in summer than winter from 2000 to 2015.•Summer PM2.5sulfate maxima have greatly diminished from 2000 to 2015.•Seasonal PM2.5nitrate and OC maxima have remained similar.