Factors Influencing O3 Concentration in Traffic and Urban Environments: A Case Study of Guangzhou City

Abstract

Ozone (O₃) pollution is a serious issue in China, posing a significant threat to people's health. Traffic emissions are the main pollutant source in urban areas. NO_X and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from traffic emissions are the main precursors of O₃. Thus, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between traffic conditions and O₃ pollution. This study focused on the potential relationship between O₃ concentration and traffic conditions at a roadside and urban background in Guangzhou, one of the largest cities in China. The results demonstrated that no significant difference in the O₃ concentration was observed between roadside and urban background environments. However, the O₃ concentration was 2 to 3 times higher on sunny days (above 90 μg/m³) than on cloudy days due to meteorological conditions. The results confirmed that limiting traffic emissions may increase O₃ concentrations in Guangzhou. Therefore, the focus should be on industrial, energy, and transportation emission mitigation and the influence of meteorological conditions to minimize O₃ pollution. The results in this study provide some theoretical basis for mitigation emission policies in China.