Characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 at Mount Wutai Buddhism Scenic Spot, Shanxi, China

Airborne particulate pollution at Mount Wutai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi, China, exceeds WHO air quality guidelines by 1.01–1.14 times for PM10 and 1.75–2.70 times for PM2.5 during peak tourist season. Particle size analysis revealed distinct distributions across four sampling locations: Wu Ye Temple (core incense burners) showed fine particulates ranging from 0 to 3.30 μm, while other sites exhibited larger ranges up to 5.90 μm. Particulates in Wu Ye Temple were primarily spherical, rod-like, and irregular soot aggregates for PM10, with spherical dust particles for PM2.5. Manjusri Temple and Yang Bai Lin Village predominantly featured irregular soil mineral matter (PM10) and amorphous ultrafine soot (PM2.5). This study highlights the significant impact of human activities on air quality in this culturally significant landscape.

Wu, Z., Liu, F., & Fan, W. (2015). Characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 at Mount Wutai Buddhism Scenic Spot, Shanxi, China. Atmosphere, 6(8), 1195–1210. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos6081195