Daily variations of size-segregated ambient particulate matter in Beijing

Daily, size-segregated particulate matter (PM) samples were collected at Peking University from March 2012 to April 2013. Seventeen indoor air samples were also collected over this period. Winter PM concentrations decreased compared with those reported a decade ago, but summer PM concentrations increased over the same time period. Increasing summer PM concentrations likely resulted from a shift in the major source of PM from primary coal burning to vehicle-associated secondary particle formation. A multiple regression model explained 62% of daily PM concentration variations, and wind direction was the most important factor controlling PM concentrations. Severe pollution was often associated with southeasterly winds, while westerly and northwesterly winds brought relatively clean air. Temperature, precipitation and relative humidity also affected PM concentrations. PM concentrations indoors were generally lower than, but significantly correlated with ambient concentrations. Indoor PM concentrations were also affected by wind speed and temperature.