Based on hourly observation data of
PM2.5 and
NO2 concentrations at Beijing traffic stations during the Spring Festival from 2014 to 2018, the effects of vehicle emission reduction and fireworks forbidden and the impacts of emissions from fireworks and meteorological conditions on air quality were analyzed by comparing concentration characteristics and ratio of
PM2.5 to CO The results showed that characteristics of
PM2.5 and
NO2 concentrations were different during the Spring Festival. The average
PM2.5 concentrations from 2014-2018 were 103.6 μg/
m3 and 25.3% higher than those before and after the Spring Festival. Significantly affected by vehicle emission reduction at traffic stations, the
NO2 concentration was 53.8 μg/
m3 and 19.5% lower than those before and after the Spring Festival. The concentrations of
PM2.5 during the Spring Festival was lowest in 2014, and decreased year by year from 2015-2018. The burning of fireworks had relatively greater impacts on
PM2.5 than
NO2 During the New Years Eve, the maximum contribution of hourly
PM2.5 concentration from burning fireworks was 283.4-704.1 μg/
m3 Compared with the average of the previous four years, the concentrations of
PM2.5 decreased by 25.2% and
NO2 reduced by only 2.4%, which implied
PM2.5 pollution was improved significantly by the measures of banning fireworks within the Fifth Ring Road in 2018. Under the meteorological conditions unfavorable to atmospheric diffusion, the maximum contribution of
PM2.5 concentration during the New Year’s Eve was still 45.0% lower than that of the previous four years, indicating great reduction effect of fireworks prohibition measures. The effect of meteorological conditions on the
PM2.5 during the Spring Festival was more significant than those of
NO2. The meteorological condition favorable for atmospheric diffusion was the main reason for the great improvement of
PM2.5 pollution in 2014.
