[Ferro-Alloys.com] Sand, dust may cause more pollution in coming months

China has experienced continuous improvement in its air quality this year but may suffer more floating sand and dust in the coming winter and spring, officials said.

So far this year, the average concentration across the country of PM2.5－particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns that is harmful to health－stood at 28 micrograms per cubic meter, down 6.7 percent year-on-year, Liu Shusheng, a senior official with the environmental monitoring department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news conference on Friday.

Following a year-on-year decrease of 8.3 percent, the country saw the average concentration drop to 33 mcg per cubic meter in 2020, according to the ministry.

Liu, however, warned of a "still grim" situation in the coming winter because of unfavorable meteorological conditions, during which the country usually suffers the worst air quality because of the consumption of coal for heating.

Precipitation in northern Asia in the winter and spring is expected to be less than in normal years, potentially causing above average frequency of floating sand and dust, he said.

But he ruled out the high possibility of heavy sandstorms in the country.

He said more frequent and stronger cold air is forecast to strike the country in a relatively cold winter, resulting in favorable meteorological conditions for the dispersal of air pollutants.

Liu, however, noted a pessimistic situation in North China, which includes Beijing, from February to March.

Though the temperature and precipitation in the region may not differ much from normal years, the relative humidity can be higher, making it hard for air pollutants to disperse. A higher possibility of wind from the south during that time may make conditions for dispersal of pollution even more unfavorable, he said.

Air pollutants brought by wind from the south may easily accumulate in the region as mountains to the north will prevent them from moving farther.

"The ministry will closely follow and research possible occurrences of heavy air pollution as well as floating sand and dust. Forecasts and early warnings will be made in a timely manner," he said.

Wu Xianfeng, deputy director general of the ministry's air quality management department, vowed to launch a series of measures to curb pollutant emissions, which are the root cause of the air quality problem in China.

Aside from optimizing the country's structures of industry, energy consumption, transportation and land use, the country will launch emergency measures in a timely manner to restrict production in case of heavy air pollution, he said.

"The only factor we can control is to reduce emissions. Only when we manage to minimize emissions in case of unfavorable meteorological conditions can we effectively eradicate occurrences of heavy air pollution," he said.

He also said the ministry will step up measures to manage diesel trucks, which are a major contributor to PM2.5.

Intensified efforts will be made to improve diesel quality, as well as to promote new energy vehicles, he said, adding the ministry will also make consistent endeavors to have more cargo transported via railway and ship instead of roads.

Source: Chinadaily

• [Editor:tianyawei]