Emission regulations altered the concentrations, origin, and formation of carbonaceous aerosols in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Abstract

To investigate the effects of the regulations of diesel and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHCs) emissions in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) on the characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols (organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC)), we conducted field observations to characterize carbonaceous aerosols in the TMA in the summer of 2004 and 2014 (the end of July–middle of August). Following the enforcement of diesel emission regulations, EC concentrations showed a four-fold decrease from 2004 to 2014. However, OC concentrations showed no significant decrease in the last decade. Multiple chemical analyses revealed the differences in the impacts of the contribution of oxygenated fraction, biogenic NMHCs on OC, and the secondary organic aerosol–Ozone relationship between 2004 and 2014. Further investigations into the emission inventory for recent years, especially in terms of precursor gases, are needed for better prediction of OC in the TMA using chemical transport models.