Ongoing uncoordinated anthropogenic emission abatement promotes atmospheric new particle growth in a Chinese megacity

Abstract

Abstract Atmospheric new particle growth in diameter is the crucial process determining air quality effects raised by secondary aerosols. However, uncertain mechanisms and long-term trends of new particle growth limit the assessments of urban air quality evolution. Here we report an increasing trend of new particle growth rate in responds to anthropogenic emission abatement in urban Beijing during autumn from 2017 to 2021. Oxygenated organic vapors is the key compounds driving this variation of growth rate. While the anthropogenic volatile organic precursor abatement has decreased their total concentrations, the concurrent NOx abatement has increased the fractions thus the concentrations of the low-volatility condensable parts, which are the most relevant contributors for growth. The coeffect of anthropogenic abatement on the volatility distribution of oxygenated organic vapors is the mystery of the increasing growth rate. Our findings highlight the importance of coordinated anthropogenic emission controls on air quality improvement.