In response to worsening ozone pollution, Prof. Tao WANG, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and his research team focus on photochemical air pollution, investigating ozone and fine particulate matter as major air pollutants through laboratory, field, and numerical studies.
The research team has quantified emission factors of reactive nitrogen from soils and organic gases from trees, while also assessing chloride emissions from human and oceanic sources. They found that the impacts of soil emissions are often underestimated, while biogenic emissions are frequently overestimated.
They also uncovered the role of halogen atoms in polluted air and identified new pathways for organic fine particulate formation. Based on the evidence, they recommend targeted mitigation measures to reduce winter haze in North China and photochemical smog in South China, and to strengthen regional policy frameworks.
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