Air pollution caused by small particulate matter (PM) is a major public health concern worldwide and especially so in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Knowledge of PM concentration levels and sources is integral to good public policy for air quality protection. The research group at HKUST led by Prof. Jianzhen Yu (Chair Professor of Department of Chemistry and Division of Environment and Sustainability) has developed and shared its expertise in atmospheric measurement of PM components, with substantial impact on public policy, the environment, professional practice and public health. The Environmental Protection Department of the Government of the HKSAR has been relying on HKUST to provide analytical data for its PM2.5 monitoring network since 2011, and more recently to monitor impact of the diesel vehicle control program on air quality. The group has also helped governmental environmental monitoring agencies in Macao, Guangdong Province, and the Yangtze River Delta area address the air pollution challenge by transferring their analytical know-how through sharing standard operating procedures and hands-on training.

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