BPB Reports

Paper Details

BPB Reports
Vol. 7 No. 5 p.178-182 2024
Report
Characteristics of Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Taichung, Taiwan - Comparison with Metropolitan Areas in Japan
  • Tsuyoshi Murahashi (Nihon Pharmaceutical University / tmu@nichiyaku.ac.jp)
Ching-Tang Kuo 1) , Chieh Yang 1) , Naoto Uramaru 2) , Minoru Tsuzuki 2) , Tsuyoshi Murahashi 2)
1) College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taiwan , 2) Nihon Pharmaceutical University
Received: August 17, 2024;   Accepted: September 28, 2024;   Released: October 18, 2024
Keywords: fine particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, Taichung, Saitama
Abstracts

To investigate the characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in Taichung, Taiwan, atmospheric concentrations of PM2.5 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured weekly from 2016 to 2017 in Taichung and Saitama in the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) the annual mean concentration of PM2.5 in Taichung was 27.7 µg/m3 (2016) and 31.1 µg/m3 (2017), which was twice that of Saitama and exceeded the long-term environmental standard of 15 µg/m3 in both years. (2) Two-year mean concentration of the 10 PAHs was 1.42 ng/m3, which was twice that in Saitama. (3) PM2.5 and PAH concentrations were higher with the winter monsoon from China being most likely cause. (4) The correlation between PM2.5 and the other pollutant concentrations revealed that the primary sources of PM2.5, automobiles, thermal power plants, and factories were also significant. Based on the findings, reducing PM2.5 concentration in Taichung requires not only reducing emissions from automobiles, but also implementing measures against power plants and factories. Additionally, it is effective in reducing PM2.5 in China. We hope that the reduction in air pollutants in Taiwan and China will clean air in Taichung.