Comment on 'Atmospheric Particulate Matter Pollution during the 2008 Beijing Olympics'

摘要

Wang et al. (1) report their findings on paniculate matter (PM_(2.5) and PM_(10)) pollution in Beijing prior to, during, and after the 2008 Olympics. The main findings include that (1) their observed PM_(10) concentrations were highly correlated with but 1.3 times higher than the PM_(10) concentrations measured at nearby sites by Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau (Beijing EPB), (2) meteorological parameters (mainly air masses from the south and precipitation) accounted for 40% of the total variation in PM_(10) concentration, whereas the source control measures (to improve the air quality during the Olympics) only accounted for 16% of the total variation, (3) PM_(10) concentrations in Beijing during the Olympic period were 2.9, 3.5, and 1.9 times higher than those in Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens, respectively, and (4) PM_(2.5) and PM_(10)concentrations during the Olympic period exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) 24 h guidelines 100% and 81% of the time, respectively.