Abstract. A high-resolution air pollutant emission inventory for
the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region was updated for 2017 using emission
factors and chemical speciation based mainly on local measurements in this
study. The inventory included 424 non-methane volatile organic compounds
(NMVOCs) and 43 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) species from 259
specific sources. The total emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOCs,
PM10, PM2.5, and NH3 in the YRD region in 2017 were 1552,
3235, 38 507, 4875, 3770, 1597, and 2467 Gg, respectively. SO2 and
CO emissions were mainly from boilers, accounting for 49 % and 73 % of
the total. Mobile sources dominated NOx emissions, contributing 57 % of the total. NMVOC emissions, mainly from industrial sources, made up
61 % of the total. Dust sources accounted for 55 % and 28 % of
PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, respectively. Agricultural sources
accounted for 91 % of NH3 emissions. Major PM2.5 species were
OC, Ca, Si, PSO4, and EC, accounting for 9.0 %, 7.0 %, 6.4 %,
4.6 %, and 4.3 % of total PM2.5 emissions, respectively. The main
species of NMVOCs were aromatic hydrocarbons, making up 25.3 % of the
total. Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) contributed 21.9 % of
the total NMVOC emissions. Toluene had the highest comprehensive
contribution to ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA)
formation potentials, while other NMVOCs included 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene,
m,p-xylene, propylene, ethene, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene. Industrial process
and solvent-use sources were the main sources of O3 and SOA formation
potential, followed by motor vehicles. Among industrial sources, chemical
manufacturing, rubber and plastic manufacturing, appliance manufacturing,
and textiles made significant contributions. This emission inventory should
provide scientific guidance for future control of air pollutants in the YRD
region of China.